Pretend Play

  • Review spotlight

    Learn More About Pretend Play

    Pretend play is when children use their imagination to create a make-believe world. They act out scenarios or take on different roles, often using props and toys to embellish their fantasies. It’s highly beneficial for kids to play pretend as they develop their cognitive, social, and emotional skills. They learn and grow as they act out flying spaceships or do the weekly grocery shopping. Whether they’re superheroes, doctors, or five-star chefs, you can encourage your children’s creativity with props and costumes.

    Enhance the make-believe experience with pretend play toys from shops on Etsy. Let imaginations run wild with these popular pretend play toys:


    • Play kitchen: Aspiring little cooks will be in awe of a kid-sized pretend play kitchen equipped with a stove, sink, and cupboards. Toss them an apron and toy pots and pans, and they’ll be cooking all afternoon. There are play kitchens that are even more elaborate with fridges, microwaves, dishwashers, and ovens. They’re often crafted from wood that is painted or stained.
    • Play food sets: Play food sets are wonderful additions to a play kitchen or your child’s invisible bakery. There are adorable hand-knit fruits and veggies, felt cookies, and plushie condiments. Tiny bakers can roll it and pat it with a baking set full of wooden buns and pastries, silicone toy whisks, baking bowls, and spatulas.
    • Tea set: Your child will throw the tea party of the year with a sweet little toy tea set. A tea party is the ultimate pretend play for toddlers as they roleplay as hosts to their stuffed-animal guests, pouring make-believe tea into their teeny, well-crafted cups.
    • Tool kit: A toy tool kit allows your little builders to have their own personal tools that won’t injure tiny fingers. These kits typically consist of the handiest tools, like hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers, made from soft and lightweight materials.
    • Doctor kit: A kid’s doctor kit introduces little ones to the medical practice, allowing them to reverse roles and take care of the grown-ups.

    There’s always an occasion to give a pretend play set to a lucky youngster. Better yet, several shops on Etsy produce customized play sets that make your gift that much more sentimental.


    Have the child’s initials engraved on a set of wooden trucks and vehicles or their initials etched onto a mini bakeware set. Relive your childhood with vintage pretend play sets from collectors on Etsy. Kids can play with toys like the ones you grew up with, and caregivers can reminisce about the good ol’ days. A vintage play toy set is also a great gift for a household full of antique decor.