36 Ideas of Pretend Play for Preschoolers that are Pretty Perfect

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There are many benefits for pretend play for preschoolers.

Not only does it provide ample learning opportunities, but it also encourages creative thinking and conflict resolution skills.

From learning life skills to exploring career ideas, these pretend play ideas will provide lots of opportunity for creative thinking and expanding your preschoolers imagination.

Normally kids are pretty good about creating pretend play ideas on their own.

Even when parents aren’t as imaginative.

For example, my daughters have told me that toothpaste lids are cups for Barbie dolls, not trash! Who knew?

Just in case you need some pretend play ideas for your preschoolers, I’ve got you covered.

Learn about community helpers, life skills, and more all while playing!

Community Helpers Pretend Play for Preschoolers

Does your child like to build towers, draw, or play with dolls?

What seems like play now may be the start of a future career.

Below are some pretend play ideas to promote career exploration for preschoolers.

Not all these ideas may technically be about a community helper.

But they still explore important professions.

Pair an activity with one of these 8 books about community helpers for even more career ideas.

Pick up some trash around the house like a garbage man as seen on My Mundane and Miraculous Life. Similarly, you could try cardboard box dumpster diving.
Deliver some mail like a mailman with this mailbox pretend play idea shown on Hands On As We Grow.
Check out some books like a librarian with a pretend play library as seen on Books and Giggles.
Teach in a pretend school like the one on Learn with Play at Home. While doing this, incorporate these 14 books about teachers, these 30 teacher appreciation gifts, or these 20 back to school projects!
Be a conductor of a box train like the one on Hands On As We Grow. Choo choo!
Try being a farmer with some toilet paper roll farm animals as seen on Crafty Kids at Home.
Brush some stuffed animals at a pet grooming salon like the one on Sunny Day Family.
Preschoolers can pretend to treat their animal with vet pretend play as seen on Frugal Fun 4 Boys. A free printable is available for your pet’s checkup.
Create a cast, make a homemade stethoscope, and look at x-rays when you play doctor like Teach Beside Me. You could even make a homemade doctor kit like the one on Kids Activities.
Decorate science lab coats as shown on More Time 2 Teach. Then do one of these 50 amazingly simple science experiments. Perfect for little scientists!
Uncover something amazing with an archaeological dig shown on Happy Brown House. What will your archaeologist discover?
Enjoy some tasty archaeology as seen on Team Cartwright. But is it really archaeology, or is it paleontology?

Life Skills Pretend Play for Preschoolers

Life skills are important to know but can be so boring to learn. Until now.

Teach life skills to your preschoolers through pretend play!

Many of the life skills here are for the future.

After all, preschoolers don’t need to know how to cook, drive, or garden.

But it’s still fun to practice at a young age.

For age-appropriate life skills, check out these essential basic life skills for a preschooler to know.

There are many benefits for pretend play for preschoolers. Not only does it provide ample learning opportunities, but it also encourages creative thinking and conflict resolution skills.

Vacuum the floor with a DIY pretend vacuum as seen on Crate & Kids Blog. Although it doesn’t really clean. Oh well!
Do some laundry on Laundry Day like The Resourceful Mama. Another great way to use boxes!
Wash some toys with a toy washing station like Busy Toddler. Scrub-a-dub-dub!
Try play cooking a feast as seen on Rainy Day Mum.
Have your preschoolers cook some pretend play spaghetti like Where Imagination Grows.
Assemble some recycled pizza shown on Toddling in the Fast Lane. Surely you can find plenty of toppings!
Make a pretend cookware stove as seen on Kids Activities Blog. Not only can it replace a toy cooktop, but it can also be used to store the play dishes and food. Sweet!
Mix together some outdoor nature soup like How Wee Learn.
Grow a play garden as seen on Hands On As We Grow. A great way to practice fine motor skills!
Preschoolers can play pretend to clean the yard with a homemade leaf blower shown on Hands On As We Grow. After that, bring the leaves inside with these 42 stunning leaf crafts for kids to make.
Design a car as seen on Inventors of Tomorrow. Then drive and repair the car. And make sure to check out these 35 vehicle activities for even more ideas.
Practice tractor driving shown on Hands On As We Grow. What else can your couch become? Perhaps a ship!

More Imagination Play for Preschooler

Keep your preschoolers playtime going with more pretend play fun ideas.

Go on an explorer scavenger hunt with binoculars shown on Hands On As We Grow. After all, adventure awaits!
Dig on a pirate treasure hunt as seen on Hands On As We Grow. Yo ho ho!
Build a fort for pretend play camping with preschoolers like No Time for Flashcards. If you need fort building tips, check out these 7 epic forts for kids.
Travel to Living Room Lake for some pretend play fishing shown on Growing Play. Oh, the fish stories you’ll have! After all, we are pretending!
Set up a pretend indoor beach as seen on KinderCare. Especially great on a cold day! These edible beach sand castles can add to the indoor beach fun.
Create a paper bag city shown on Kids Activities Blog.
Fly in a cardboard airplane as seen on Small Fry. Then check out these 34 airplane crafts for even more soaring fun.
Enjoy doughnuts like Where Imagination Grows. Yum!
Create a flower bouquet as seen on Hands On As We Grow. Perfect play idea for preschoolers to pretend they are little florists!
Tune in to your spidey senses with a sticky spider web shown on Hands On As We Grow. If that’s not your super hero of choice, try one of these superhero activities for kids.
Become a robot with a robot costume as seen on Lansdowne Life. In addition to this, you could check out these 20 robot activities.
Dress up! Make sure to check out these must-have dress up ideas from Kids Craft Room for some inspiration.