Why Imaginative Play Matters (and Why It’s Okay if It Feels Hard)

In this episode of Good Inside with Dr. Becky, we dive into the magic of imaginative play - why it’s so important for kids, and why it can feel surprisingly challenging for parents to join in.

Dr. Becky explores how pretend play nurtures curiosity, problem-solving, and emotional growth, giving children the space to wonder, dream, and practice being in the world. But she also normalizes the truth for many parents: stepping into a child’s world of imagination isn’t always easy, and that doesn’t make you a bad parent.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for not loving playtime, this episode will change the way you see both yourself and your child’s incredible capacity for imagination.

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For a full transcript of the episode, go to goodinside.com/podcast.

This episode is brought to you by the Play-Doh brand. If you’re anything like me, you’re running out of summer activity ideas for your kids…Well, exciting news for parents everywhere: Good Inside just teamed up with the Play-Doh brand to bring you a video series on how to help kids build life-long skills like imagination, confidence, and frustration tolerance - all through open-ended play! The best part: I promise this isn’t another thing to add to your already packed plate as a parent. No hours of prep, no need for picture-perfect setups. All you need is a Play-Doh can or two.

We also made a one-page cheat sheet with “5 Strategies for Open-Ended Play” you can literally download and try today. (Full disclosure: I printed the guide out and stuck it on my fridge as a reminder for myself - after all, my kids get “mom” at home, not Dr. Becky!) Head to walmart.com/playdoh to watch the video and download the guide. That’s walmart.com/playdoh. I can’t wait to hear what your kid creates.