As a child gets older, the value of pretend and creative play is very important, with clear benefits to their development. The playing now becomes more complex, filled with lots of fantasy and drama. It also becomes more social as they prefer to play with friends rather than on their own. They often play out ideas that they have come across at school or in the media. Creative play and role play are important to a child's emotional expression and development, it can be easier for them to express difficult feelings through a puppet or within a pretend situation.

Browse below for a large range of creative play toys.