Playing at make-believe with toddlers may help prevent behavioural problems

Following an analysis of 3,600 five-second clips, which were taken from recordings of 60 mother-toddler pairs playing together, researchers also found that children engage in more make-believe play if their mother has lower depression or anxiety.

Children whose mothers had ‘moderate’ anxiety typically engaged in imaginative pretend play for around 10 per cent less time than those of mothers with no anxiety issues.

When children were assessed for signs of behavioural problems two years after the first part of the study, researchers found some evidence that these were less common among children whose mothers engaged in more pretend play when they were toddlers.

Dr Zhen Rao, from the Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL), at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, said, ‘Parents are usually their child’s first play partners, so they fulfil an essential role, through pretend play, in helping children to learn skills like how to communicate, control their emotions, and co-operate with others. The associations we found show that supporting families affected by mental health challenges may also enhance children’s access to this important form of play.’