Playing at make-believe has more benefits than you think!
What child doesn't love their parents joining in with them to play tea parties? And now setting up that tea party with your child and their teddies has been proven to have added psychological benefits too!
An article published in Nursery World said that researchers from the University of Cambridge have found that children whose parents join them in pretend play are less likely to exhibit behavioural problems down the line.
Dr Zhen Rao, from the Centre for Research on Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL), at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, said, ‘Parents are usually their child’s first play partners, so they fulfil an essential role, through pretend play, in helping children to learn skills like how to communicate, control their emotions, and co-operate with others. The associations we found show that supporting families affected by mental health challenges may also enhance children’s access to this important form of play.’
If you’re looking for a pretend play tea set to test out your make-believe skills with your children, Tender Leaf Afternoon Tea Stand could be the perfect one for you!
In the set, you can find ham and cucumber sandwiches, lemon meringue pie, chocolate roll, Victoria sponge, apple fancy and cupcakes, all part of this delicious collection, displayed on an elegant wooden cake stand topped with a pretty blue bird.
Each Afternoon Tea Stand stand includes a wooden cake stand and 8 different cakes and sandwiches. Plus we have a free printable so you can cut out and make some cute paper doilies for your tea party!
See below.....
Photo credit (Mother and Child): @ashleyjanejenkins