How to Nurture Imaginative Play in Toddlers: 50+ Easy, Fun Activities
Updated: July 12, 2025
Key Points
- Definition: Imaginative play is a type of play-based activity that encourages children to use creativity and make-believe.
- Examples of Imaginative Play: art, music, dramatic play, construction play, storytelling, and problem-solving activities
As a developmental therapist, I love sharing how parents and educators can nurture toddlers’ creativity. These toddler-approved, play-based ideas are perfect for the classroom or at home. Let’s explore how to promote creativity through these fun, simple imaginative play activities for toddlers.
What is Imaginative Play?
Imaginative play is a type of play-based activity that encourages children to use creativity and make-believe.
Generally, imagination activities are open-ended (the activity does not have a specific outcome) and mostly child-led (the child chooses how to use materials and how long to play).
1. Process Art Activities
Process art allows toddlers to experiment with colors, textures, and materials without expectations of the final product. This imaginative activity emphasizes the enjoyment of exploring over an outcome.
Learn about the benefits of process art vs. product art.
2. Block Play
Blocks build toddler imagination, fine motor skills, and early STEM skills as they move through the stages of block play.
Check out block play activities and discover the benefits of block play.
3. Make-Believe Play
Pretend play helps toddlers understand the world around them. They explore daily routines, act out roles, and create stories.
Explore the 5 benefits of dramatic play and baby doll activities for toddlers.
4. Storytelling
Telling stories builds a toddler’s creativity while expanding their vocabulary and communication skills.
Explore the cozy home library checklist for babies and toddlers.
5. Loose Parts
Loose parts are open-ended materials that toddlers can manipulate and explore in creative ways.
Explore the ultimate loose parts materials list, along with the loose parts FAQs.
6. Sensory Play
Sensory play encourages toddlers to explore textures, sounds, movements, and materials in creative ways that support imagination and early learning.
Check out favorite sensory play ideas for toddlers.
7. Problem-Solving Games
These adult-led games still allow toddlers to be creative while practicing memory, creative problem-solving, and imagination.
8. Outdoor Play
Nature is full of exciting experiences to prompt a toddler’s imagination.
Get my free nature play activity resource.
What Do Children Learn by Using Imagination?
- Self-identity – when toddlers role play, it actually helps them learn more about themselves.
- Empathy – through role play, toddlers begin to understand other people’s experiences.
- Social skills – imagination play are an opportunity to practice language, communication, and cooperation.
- Cognitive skills – toddlers can practice skills in problem solving, cause and effect, attention, and motivation.
- Open-ended, child-led imagination games let toddlers tap into their unique developmental schedule. They can follow their instincts, build skills at their own pace, and pursue their interests.
How to Promote Toddler’s Imaginative Play
For toddlers, play and exploration is instinctual. Here are my best tips to help caregivers support and deepen imaginative play.
I found this very interesting and my first thought is how as a mom, in the 90s, I wish I had known more about this. Refusing to pretend figurines could talk. Thank goodness my daughters had Mable/grams.
We are well past toddlers 🙂 but we do have great-nieces and nephews. One niece in particular does many activities likes these. She does so many great things to keep them active. I think she would love this! I will share with her.