1. Dress up

Create a dress-up box. Fill it with costumes, hates, headbands and accessories for instant dressing up play. A doctor, a dragon, astronaut, fairies or even Darth Vader… pretending to be something or someone else will let your child’s imagination run riot. Don't dismiss DIY costumes and rummaging around the house for items - this will just speak their imaginations further. Sieve on the head anyone?

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These are our favourite places to find dressing-up clothes:

  • Atelier Spatz - is a Junior Design Award winning studio making luxury children's costumes.
  • Meri Meri - for capes, headbands and quirky costumes that are perfect for parties.
  • Fable Heart - for enchanting, dreamy and sparkly capes, wands and crowns.

2. Stimulate senses

Your child will love exploring different textures and scents. Gather leaves, petals and stones from the garden and encourage your child to touch and smell them. Encourage her to do it again, this time with her eyes closed.

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bear and rue

>> We love this Nature Hunt Wilderness Explorer collector carry disc the perfect accompaniment on those nature walks, perfect for little hands to handle and carry using the cut out handle, £32.00, Bear & Rue

3. Play along

Help your child to view familiar things in a new and different light. What old rug? Didn’t you know it’s a magic carpet!

>> Need some ideas? Take a look at our guide to How to play the best traditional games

garden set
Growing Garden Wooden Toy, £68, GTLC

4. Hands off

Try not to guide your child’s play. Research shows children learn more when they are allowed to lead the play experience. For example let them lead the role-play when playing kitchen, shops/markets or doctors and nurses and you do as they ask, to encourage their understanding and imagination of pretend play.

Our favourite places to find sustainable role-play toys:

The 'good behaviour' benefits of reading to your child

5. Tell tales

Reading and telling stories to your child isn’t just about building literacy skills, it’s also a great way to boost creativity.

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>> No better place to get inspired than our Top 100 Children's Books

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