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You don’t have to spend tons of money to encourage creative play with your child.  She will be thrilled when you drape a large sheet or blanket over some chairs and create a cozy cave for her to crawl into.  A few empty boxes can become other props in her play.  Suddenly, she has a car to drive in or a bed for her babies.  Her problem solving skills are put into action as she tries to manipulate all the materials.  Oh, no, the house crashed in.  How can she make it sturdier?  Let your child figure out these issues through trial and error.  She is busy learning physics and mathematical skills as she plays make-believe.  This unstructured play is crucial to her development.  She has the freedom to make choices and initiate actions.  She can be whoever she wants to be.

Dads can build the most amazing playhouse for their using simple materials like cardboards and blankets. They can create a large rectangular play area with an opening that was considered the front door, and the inside of the rectangle became the playhouse.   A play kitchen set and dolly bed can be added to the “house.” Hours upon hours of dramatic play occurred in that playhouse, which at times turned into a castle or a rocket ship.  Imaginations went wild while all the friends came over to play into this “house” that was built with a simple, easy to find materials.

Parents can also allow their kids to build their own playhouse. They can just facilitate the playtime but let the decision-making, of what materials to use or what kind of house they will build, up to the children. This experience can develop skills in all domains of development as they worked together to form this unbelievable play area.  The materials they can use can go from inexpensive illustration board or cartolina to or free recyclable materials such as empty containers or boxes.