Encouraging imaginative play

[Herewegoagain56]

My 3 year old is currently on the waitlist to be assessed for possible ASD. His imaginative play is very limited and needs me to lead the play and tends to stick to the same ‘script’ each time. Has anyone found anything to help encourage more imaginative play (or independent play!)? I obviously try to encourage different scenarios at home but wondered if I was missing any tricks

Do you have portage in your area? They should be able to help.

We just did the same as you!

Sometimes DD is also happy to act out things that extend from TV shows (stuff like Paw Patrol or whatever - if they've been on a snowboarding adventure we'd pretend to be on snowboards). Lots of pretending with sticks (DD went through a stage of loving sticks) - pretending they were a wand, then making a camp fire, then a house for a mouse, or a birds nest...

Definitely always worked better when we took something she already liked as a base!

@flippit81 I don’t even know what portage is so I’m guessing not! I really haven’t had any help.

@LightTripper Ah he is into sticks at the moment so that is a great idea thankyou!

www.portage.org.uk/about/what-portage

It’s a home visiting educational service for 0-5s with special educational needs. It’s brilliant - it’s about helping children to learn and develop through play. Google your local offer and see if it’s there or check on the website above.

there is a lot of stuff about portage on the Essex local offer website, almost like a manual so might be worth a look.