It seems that play is a synonym for fun. But the truth is that play, even more so when it is linked to the word "infant", goes much further than that. Play, or the play process, is the main vehicle for children's learning. So, when we see children playing, are they really just learning? Far from it: it is their method of having fun, but they learn through fun. So when a child plays they are doing both.

Within the world of play there are infinite types, but some have caused more insight than others. This is the case, for example, with role play.

What is role play and how does it take place?

Some years ago, the pedagogue Jean Piaget, known for his theories on cognitive learning, developed a comprehensive description of the main types of play that emerge as children grow up. In relation to these, he established three developmental stages in which a different type of play predominates. The first, the sensorimotor stage, which occurs between 0 and 2 years of age and in which functional play predominates; the second, the pre-operational stage, between 2 and 6 years of age, in which role play prevails; and the third, that of concrete operations, from 6 to 12 years of age, in which rule-based play predominates.

We will focus on the second stage: the pre-operational stage where, according to the author, role play predominates.

Role play is that in which the child acquires a series of roles that do not belong to him/her in order to imitate situations that he/she has seen in real life on some occasions. To do this, they use their imagination or even objects that have a different function to the one they give them. For example, they give different uses to a toy that we, a priori, would only find one use for.

In order to carry out role play, there must first be a situation of shared play. This will first take place with the mother, the father and a relative and, later, when the child starts school, it will take place with their peers. At this point they will even be able to set a goal and establish certain rules.

As for the age at which role play begins, experts talk about two years of age, as this is the age at which they develop the ability to symbolise situations (although it depends largely on the psychological rhythms of each child). But, as they grow up and, above all, once they acquire language, role play will become more and more complicated.

The importance of role play in Early Years

The importance of role play is that this is precisely the way children learn. Role play is nothing more than a game of imitation: first it will be their parents and then any person or circumstance that crosses their lives.

Observing and copying. This is the way in which they adapt to the world and understand things.

According to the UOC, the benefits of role play in a child’s development includes the following:

• It works on creativity and imagination
• It allows children to develop their emotions and social skills
• It allows them to adapt to the world around them.
• It fosters self-esteem and self-control.
• Stimulates their curiosity
• Helps them understand the roles of the people around them.
• Contributes to their motor development, as they work on skills and psychomotor skills.

How to encourage role play?

As we said at the beginning, there is no need for specific toys or large spaces for role play. Any object or place is worthy of it.

So, the activities that we can carry out to encourage it are as many as we can imagine. For example, reading stimulates it a lot, as children work on their imagination and creativity. However, it is always better to establish active reading with them (encouraging discussion and reading aloud).

You can also propose fictitious situations for your child to continue as they wish and with whatever they want.