Examples of Symbolic Play

What is symbolic play?

Symbolic play or pretend play are often used interchangeably. Both terms refer to a child's ability to use objects, actions, or persons in a nonliteral way, projecting imagined situations onto real ones for the sake of well...fun!

In symbolic or pretend play, kids engage in activities where they represent something other than what it actually is. Whether they're turning a box into a little house for their toy mouse, using a stick as a magic wand, or pretending to be a ninja in a battle, they are demonstrating symbolic thinking and imaginative play. So, in short, when you hear either term, it generally refers to the same realm of imaginative playfulness in children.

Let's break down some examples of symbolic play:

1. Object Substitution:

   • Banana Phone: (the classic example) imagine a child using a banana as a phone. Instead of eating it, they hold it to their ear, talking and pretending it's a telephone. The banana becomes a symbol for something else—in this case, a make-believe phone.

   • Shoebox Car Chase: using an empty shoebox as a car, a child zooms around, making engine sounds and imagining the car is being chased by the police!

   • Pretend Cooking with Blocks: wooden blocks transform into ingredients, and the child engages in imaginative cooking, stirring, and serving pretend meals.

2. Imagining Absent Objects:

   • Zoom Zoom Zoom, We're Going to the Moon: a child is playing with an empty box and pretending it's a spaceship. Even though there's no rocket ship in sight, their imagination transforms the box into a vehicle for intergalactic adventures.

   • Next Ticket to Hawaii: sofa cushions become airplane seats, and kids embark on an imaginary journey, complete with boarding passes and in-flight snacks.

   • Spacewalk without Leaving the Yard: a child puts on a space helmet, and steps into the backyard. She pretends to walk on the moon, exploring an imaginary lunar landscape.

3. Assigning Absent Attributes in Sociodramatic Play:

   • Playing House: One child pretends to be the parent, another the teacher, and a third the family pet. Even though they're not actually parents, teachers, or pets, they're assigning roles and characteristics to themselves, creating a pretend world.

   • Fantasy Kingdom & The Royals: Imagining a royal kingdom, children take on roles of kings, queens, knights, and dragons in their play. Who will win the battle against the evil Red Fire Dragon tonight?

   • Animal Rescue Squad: Kids become wildlife rescuers, saving imaginary animals and nursing them back to health in a pretend animal hospital.

In these symbolic play examples, notice that everyday objects or actions represent something else or pretend that things or people are different from what they really are.

Why is Symbolic Play Essential for Speech Therapy?

Symbolic play and language development are interconnected aspects of a child's cognitive and linguistic growth. Engaging in imaginative play not only fosters creativity but also builds the cognitive skills that form the foundation for language acquisition and expression. As children progress through different stages of development, their symbolic play evolves alongside their language skills, contributing to a rich and multifaceted learning experience.

We know that symbolic play and language development share common cognitive foundations. When a child engages in symbolic play, they are essentially using their imagination to assign new meanings to objects or actions. This imaginative process involves mental representation, a skill that is closely tied to language comprehension and expression.

In the early years, before a child has fully developed verbal language skills, symbolic play becomes a means of communication. Through gestures, facial expressions, and symbolic actions, children express themselves and convey ideas. This early form of communication is a precursor to the more sophisticated verbal language that develops later.

Symbolic play acts as a platform for cognitive and linguistic growth. As children engage in imaginative play, they are not only enhancing their creativity but also building the cognitive skills necessary for language processing. This includes the ability to understand and use symbols, associate words with meanings, and eventually express complex ideas. Symbolic play also often involves the use of words in context. As children play and assign meanings to various objects or actions, they are also expanding their vocabulary. This process contributes to the development of both receptive language (understanding words) and expressive language (using words to communicate).

Symbolic play is often a social activity, especially as children grow older and engage in pretend play with peers. This social interaction enhances language development by providing opportunities for communication, negotiation, and collaboration.