What are role-play toys and why are they important for children?

Role-play toys are toys that allow children to take on a different role, such as a cooking set, doctor’s set, tea set, shop or dress-up clothes. By imitating what they see around them, children practice language, social skills, empathy and creativity. This makes it one of the most educational forms of play for toddlers and preschoolers.

What are role play toys?

Role-play toys are objects that invite children to role-play scenes from real life or from their imagination. Think of a kitchen set with which they prepare extensive meals (or an inexplicable “flower soup”), a doctor’s set with which they examine the entire family, or dress-up clothes with which they can become a pirate, princess or firewoman in an instant.

Roleplaying is more than hijacking your old frying pan or tea towel. Children use it to process impressions, try out how the world works and practice what it is like to be someone else.

From what age do children start role playing?

Role playing develops gradually. The ages below are broad guidelines.

Age	What role playing looks like	Suitable toys
1–2 years	Imitate short actions: drink from a cup, give the doll a kiss	Tea set, pan with spoon, telephone, cuddly toy
2–3 years	Imitating simple scenes, often alone or next to another child	Cooking set, toy food, doctor’s set, doll bed
3–4 years	Longer stories, first interplay with division of roles (“you are the patient”)	Shop with cash register, dress-up clothes, tool set
4–6 years	Extensive stories with agreements, rules and fantasy	Dressing up box, dollhouse, homemade attributes

Why are role-play toys important?

It strengthens social skills

Through role-playing together, children learn to communicate, collaborate and negotiate. Who can be the cook? Who is the customer? They practice how to resolve a conflict and how to take turns. Even arguing about a toy pizza is an exercise in finding a solution together.

It practices empathy

Stepping into a role means imagining how someone else feels. As a doctor, a child comforts the “sick” cuddly toy; as a parent it takes care of the doll. In this way, children practice empathy and learn to name emotions.

It stimulates creativity

With a simple medical kit, children suddenly cure teddy bears of stomach aches or give daddy a good injection. They discover that a few items are enough to create an entire world. That ties in open ended toys: the less the toy prescribes, the more the imagination fills in.

It stimulates language development

In a role, children use different words and sentences than normal: “What do you want to order?”, “Where does it hurt?”. They practice asking questions, telling stories and listening.

It builds self-confidence

Whether they are a shopkeeper, superhero or chef: in a role-playing game the child is the expert. It is nice to see how proudly a child serves his own spaghetti or explains his diagnosis (usually: “a bit of a cold”).

It helps to process new situations

A visit to the clinic, the dentist or the first day of school can be exciting. By replaying it, children can give meaning to such an experience. A doctor’s set is a well-known example of this.

Which role-play toys are popular?

• Kitchen sets and cooking sets
  From pans and toy food to a whole play kitchen. Children invent dishes and serve them with dedication. In the meantime, they learn food names, counting (“three potatoes”) and sorting.
• Tea set
  A tea party with cuddly toys is often the first role play. Pouring, passing and saying “cheers” practices fine motor skills and social habits.
• Doctor’s kit
  A suitcase with a stethoscope, thermometer and bandage instantly turns children into doctors. Great for re-enacting exciting doctor visits.
• Dress up clothes
  Superheroes, princesses, pirates or animals: with a dress-up box a child can be anything. You can also make it yourself; see make your own superhero accessories.
• Shop toys
  A cash register, play money and a fruit crate turn children into small entrepreneurs. They practice counting, trading and customer service, although they usually charge you a little too much for that imaginary banana.

Curious about the difference between role-play materials such as wood, plastic and silicone? Then read silicone role-play toys: more expensive, but better?.

What do you pay attention to when choosing role-play toys?

• Recognizability: young children mainly imitate what they know. A cooking set or tea set fits in with their daily lives.
• Size and handling: Parts should be easy for small hands to grasp.
• Safety: look at the age indication and CE marking. Small parts are not suitable for children under 3 years. When dressing up, pay attention to cords and loops around the neck.
• Sustainability: role play toys are used intensively and often for years. Sturdy material pays for itself.
• Room for imagination: a simple set leaves more to the imagination than toys that do everything themselves.

Tips for parents

• Let your child lead: don’t send too much. If the chef is a dragon or the potatoes are talking, that’s fine. Fantasy has no rules.
• Play along: get into a role yourself. Let your child explain how to bake an apple pie while you pretend you don’t know what an oven is.
• Ask open questions: “What happens now?” or “Who is coming to visit?” helps move the story along without taking over.
• Mix supplies: you don’t always need ready-made toys. An old box becomes a pirate ship, empty packaging fills the shop.
• Make it a permanent place: a corner with the cooking set or dressing up box invites you to dive in spontaneously.

Toys from this article

• Tea set
• Cooking set
• Doctor’s kit

Frequently asked questions

What do children learn from role playing?

Children practice social skills, language, empathy and creativity. They learn to cooperate, negotiate and identify emotions, and process experiences by replaying them.

From what age are role-play toys suitable?

At around the age of 1 to 2, children start to do simple imitations, such as drinking from a toy cup. Between the ages of 3 and 6, role play becomes more extensive and children more often play together with divided roles.

Which role-play toys are suitable for a toddler?

For toddlers, toys that fit in with everyday life work best: a tea set, cooking set, toy food or doctor’s set. Choose sturdy parts that are large enough for small hands and pay attention to the age indication.

As a parent, should you participate in role play?

This is not always necessary, but it is valuable. By playing along you provide ideas and words, and you show that your child’s play is important. Let your child take the lead.

Is role playing the same as fantasy play?

They overlap strongly. Role playing is the reenactment of roles and situations, often from real life. Fantasy play is broader and can also include dragons, magic powers or invented worlds. In practice they often overlap.