Imaginative Play: 25 Awesome Imagination Boosters for Kids

My son loves a good afternoon craft session, and I’m always on the lookout for projects that will prompt pretend play to expand his imagination. Role playing and storytelling are the keys to imaginative play (otherwise known as pretend play) and I’ve noticed that the more I encourage my son to make up and tell stories based on his experiences, the more his social skills improve. It’s been a really effective way to help him break through his tendencies to be shy or hide behind me when people talk to him. The more I encourage him to tell stories that he makes up, the more chatty he becomes all around.

Encouraging imaginative play doesn’t have to be this tricky or expensive endeavor. Sometimes all it takes is for me to break out the crayons and paper and have him tell me a story that he’s made up. But when he’s not in the mood for drawing, I turn to a few other activities that are easy to throw together for little-to-no cost.

Here are a few awesome activities for kids that encourage imaginative play. Some are for kids to make themselves, and some require you to lend a hand to make the magic happen. Check them out in the slideshow.

More Creative Crafts for Kids:

25 Awesome Imagination Boosters for Kids

Face Stamps

These stamps are fantastic for creating fun faces with your kids. Encourage them to make different faces and give them all personalities and life stories.

Get the tutorial on Mer Mag.

image: Mer Mag
Snail Terrarium

If your kiddo is obsessed with collecting bugs (mine is), embrace it by putting together a home for them. A terrarium is the perfect way to give snails a safe home, and you can encourage your kids to tell their snails' stories: where they came from, what their personalities are like, and how they spend their days.

Get the tutorial for making a snail terrarium here on Momtastic.

image: Momtastic
Toy Garage

Build a toy garage and encourage your kids to tell the story of their own automotive shop. This is also a brilliant way to keep all of those toy cars off of the floor!

Get the tutorial for building a toy garage here on Momtastic.

image: Momtastic
Play Popsicles

Play food is always fun, but play ice cream is really fun. Pretend you're running an ice cream truck or cart, and encourage your kids to run a pretend business.

Get the tutorial on And We Play.

image: And We Play
Puppet Theater

Encourage your kids to put on a puppet show for you or their friends. This is a great way to get their minds going and learning to tell stories.

Get the tutorial on And We Play.

image: And We Play
Cement Sandcastles

Make a cement sandcastle for them to have epic battles on. Even better, these aren't messy like real sand castles are, and are perfect for the winter months when you can't get outside.

Get the tutorial on And We Play.

image: And We Play
Duct Tape Birthday Cake

Who says birthdays are reserved for actual birthdays? Encourage your kids to recreate the thrill of celebrating someone's (or something's) birthday. Have them organize a party and plan activities for their stuffed animals or your pets.

Get the tutorial on Mer Mag.

image: Mer Mag
Horse Stable

Play barns can get expensive; instead create a horse stable from materials you can find around the house. Then, have your kids tell you the story of their farm or ranch.

Get the tutorial on Mer Mag.

image: Mer Mag
Fairy Boat

If you're playing outside, use materials you can easily find in your yard to make little fairy boats. Encourage stories of pirate adventures, fairies floating down the river, or even a boat race.

Get the tutorial on Little Monster.

image: Little Monster
Felt Board

This DIY is perfect for if you're headed out on a road trip. Whether you make letters, shapes, animals, or a combo of them all, this felt board packs up small and is easy to use when you're on a trip. Break it out on a long stretch of road, have your kids put together a scene, and let them tell you an adventurous story of the scene they've built.

Get the tutorial for putting together a felt travel board here on Momtastic.

image: Momtastic
Duct Tape Hobby Horse

Hobby horses have stood the test of time as a favorite plaything of kids---for good reason. Whether they're cowboys, ranchers, or horse racers, a hobby horse encourages hours of pretend play.

Get the tutorial on And We Play.

image: And We Play
House Blocks

For younger kids, these house blocks would be so cute to pretend to create a neighborhood. Have your kids tell the story of the neighborhood they're building. Who lives there? What do the people do and say when they interact with each other?

Get the tutorial on Mer Mag.

image: Mer Mag
Cardboard Play Chair

A great and adorable chair just for their favorite stuffed animals. It's hard work to be a stuffed animal; they have to take it easy sometimes too! Encourage your kids to build home scenes for their stuffed animals and let them play pretend house.

Get the tutorial on Hellobee.

image: Hellobee
Sidewalk Chalk Stencils

Take the playdate outdoors and create some awesome sidewalk chalk art! Providing stencils gives them something to kick start their imaginations---make stencils based on your recent experiences (like your trip to grandma's) and help your kids recall events and tell stories about what they did and where they've been.

Get the tutorial for sidewalk chalk stencils here on Momtastic.

image: Momtastic
Finger Paints

Not only is this finger paint homemade and pretty, it is also edible! That's a definite win-win for younger kiddos.

Get the tutorial edible finger paint here on Momtastic.

image: Momtastic
Food Sculptures

Snack time can be imaginative too! Provide toothpicks and fruits and veggies and see what your kids create.

Get the tutorial for building snack scupltures here on Momtastic.

image: Momtastic
Straw Embroidery

Using the provided stencils, or even creating your own, little kids can embroider paper or cardboard with straws. Have them create characters or objects that they can then turn into a storytelling scene.

Get the tutorial on Handmade Charlotte.

image: Handmade Charlotte
Luchador Masks

Who doesn't love to lucha? These masks are easy and fun to make. Even better, you can encourage your kids to create their own over-the-top wrestling persona.

Get the tutorial on And We Play.

image: And We Play
Milk Carton Houses

This is a recycled DIY that's really adorable and totally functional. Let your kids create their own neighborhood with these milk cartons.

Get the tutorial for making milk carton houses here on Momtastic.

image: Momtastic
Fingerprint Art

Kds will love creating their own bugs, animals, and faces with their own fingerprints.

Get the tutorial and ideas for fingerprint art here on Momtastic.

image: Momtastic
Superhero Mask

Little kids love to play superhero. Make them this cute mask to make saving the city a little easier for them.

Get the tutorial for making a superhero mask here on Momtastic.

image: Momtastic
Pencil Eraser Stamps

Create original art with some pencil erasers and ink! This is a great introduction to pointillism art, and kids can come up with an entire story or book illustrated with pencil eraser art.

Get the tutorial for making pencil eraser art here on Momtastic.

image: Momtastic
Animal Magnets

Take some great pictures of your kids and let them turn them into cute animals. Then have them tell you a story about themselves as that particular animal. Where do they live? What do they do all day?

Get the tutorial on Ambrosia Creative.

image: Ambrosia Creative
Cardboard Rocket

This adorable rocket takes nothing more than cardboard to make and lets your kids take their stuffed animals to space! Imagine all the crazy stories your kids can tell you about their toys traveling to the moon.

Get the tutorial on Hellobee.

image: Hellobee
Wooden Instruments

Start a family band with these colorful wooden instruments. Encourage your kids to give each family member a special musical talent, and have them tell you about your band's rock start adventures on the road.

Get the tutorial on Hellobee.

image: Hellobee