Imaginary play is so crucial today with screens and tech gadgets screaming for our kids’ attention. Imaginary play allows kids to role play, come up with new ideas and immerse themselves in the joy of creativity whether it’s serving up their latest pretend culinary delight in a play restaurant or view bath time as an adventure. These selections allow for kids of all ages to use their imaginations to the fullest.

 

Spin ’N’ Sort Spout Pro features a battery-operated bath spout that easily attaches and draws water from the tub creating an endless stream without wasting water or worrying about hot water burns from the tap. Supports STEM by introducing children to sorting, constructing and putting physics into play with spinning gear movement. Boosts fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination while promoting reasoning and problem solving as children create moving experiments with spinning, colorful action. Three interchangeable, brightly colored bath cups work with spout to create different water effects for spraying, straining, and floating fun. More than 10 different water activities engage little ones in learning while playing in the tub! Easy for kids to operate. Specially designed for small hands. Swiveling arm holds the bath cups — for playing, stacking and storage.

See my review of the Spin 'N' Sort Spout here.

Submarine Spray Station is a battery-operated submarine with a water circulation pumping system that draws water from the tub and recycles a safe stream of water without wasting water from the tap. Water magically streams through the diver shower head especially designed for easy grip and activation by small hands. Direct water flow into the water activity center to generate a chain reaction of surprising magical water effects in the bathtub!

I got this for my 4-year-old son and he absolutely LOVES this toy! As with the Spin 'N' Spout Pro, he spends even longer in baths, except, it's even worse now having both of those bath toys in combination. Set up of the Submarine Spray Station is super easy. The hardest part was getting it out the box, seriously. Once out, you use the suction cups, which are attached to the toy, t stick it to the side of the tub. I love how you can get slightly creative with the design and how you want to set it up - not a lot, but just a tad. It allows your child to have fun in the water and spraying, without keeping the faucet running - a lifesaver for us! The toy is well made and sticks well during bath time, however, it does easily fall down in a dry tub. Ultimately, this is a great toy which allows a lot of fun for bath time without a big mess. Plus, the fact that it encourages your child to use their imagination is a huge plus!

HABA’s Musical Glove Puppets come in multiple characters (each sold separately) including: Monkey, Elephant, Donkey, Crocodile, and Rhino and are the perfect toys for imaginary play! Puppet shows and more are ahead for your child and these adorable, musical puppets!

This is absolutely adorable! I received the monkey puppet, which I am passing along to a friend of mine who recently had a child (as this is recommended for ages 1 ½ years or older. My youngest is my son, who is 4 and has limited interest in stuffed animals anymore (my baby is growing up!) The monkey is super adorable and very well made. What's adorable, aside from its appearance as a whole, is that the monkey's cymbals (the circles on the hand area) both rattle. It also features a red bow tie to match his instruments and playfully fosters sound perceptions. Even better, this is machine washable on delicate cycle. Just let it air dry after. I love how everything is safely attached as to not in danger your little one while playing with it. Plus, the fact that it's a puppet means you can interact with your child for playtime as well to make it more fun as a bonding experience.

Tired of trying to keep your child at the dinner table? With Marcus and Marcus’ Amusemat, make family meals instantly fun, imaginative, and creative with a bright playground made of dish washable food grade silicone rubber to house everything from veggies to light snacks to four-course meals.  It’s a wonderful way to increase their appetite and keep their attention. Available Colors/Characters: Marcus the Lion (Red) / Pokey the Pig (Pink) / Lola the Giraffe (Yellow) / Ollie the Elephant (Green) / Willo the Whale (Purple)

I received the yellow mat and it is super adorable! I have two uses for this, wait, no, three uses! First, for pet owners, this makes a great treat dish. Why? For the same reason it makes a great dish for your little one - it doesn't slip around all over the place while the pet or child eats because of the silicone! So I guess the pet and child using it are really the first two great uses. The third use, for playing! While this is a plate to make lunch or dinner time more fun, if you pay close attention it's a little play area. So your child can use it to play with toys. In my 4-year-olds case, he likes to play with his small action figures in it! When all is said and done, cleanup is a breeze. The silicone makes it so everything just washes out. Plus, it's dishwasher safe - even better! The Amusemat is made with BPA-free, PVC-free, and phthalate-free food-grade silicone so it's definitely safe for your child to eat from as well. 

SoapSox Disney line allows for endless play in and out of the tub. SoapSox is a collection of unique, soft, and colorful characters that make bathing fun for kids and easier for parents. Soap is placed into the mouth of most SoapSox and rests in the characters belly. Made using a soft terrycloth exterior and an anti-microbial sponge interior, when filled with soap and water can be worked into a lather for a fun bath time experience. Simply add soap, water, and scrub! Characters: Nemo, Ariel, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Flounder, and Squirt.

I received a couple of these little guys and my 4-year-old son and my 10-year-old daughter absolutely love them! Basically, it's a plush animal that is safe for the bathtub. The mouth opens, allowing you to put a bar of soap in the mouth that you can then use to wash your child. Jace thought this was absolutely hilarious and 'silly' and enjoyed being washed by it! It's a great way to make the washing up part more fun; especially for children who may not enjoy baths as much. The Soapsox is high-quality and well made. The details are great and it's definitely safe for young children as there are no loose or small parts attached to it. Did I mention they're cute?!? The fact the mouth holds a bar of soap is just an added bonus! 

As you can see, these are just a few of the great must-have items on the market that are perfect for imaginary play to help build your childs imagination. What are some of your favorite products? Feel free to share in a comment below!