The Imaginative Child® is a leading manufacturer of unique specialty toys designed with one thing in mind: FUN! Our pretend play toys are made of the highest quality materials available. Our strict quality control standards set us apart from the competition because we deliver on our promise of safe, fun and terrific creative play toys. As a parent, you never have to worry when your child plays with our toys because we have already done the worrying for you.

Our award winning toys have been recognized by some of the top industry leaders as the best toys available. Our Toys are Tested In House for Safety (CPSC Standards)

Imaginative, open ended, good play is coming back in a big way. Parents, grandparents and teachers want more from toy manufacturers and that is what we produce at The Imaginative Child. Kids will literally play with our toys for hours on end. Not only do they love playing with our toys when they first open the toy, but they come back and play with them over and over again. If your looking for a toy that has lights and whistles, then our toys are probably not for you.

What are the differences between our products and our competitors? The Imaginative Child goes beyond what our competitor's offer by providing a comprehensive Education Guide and a Parent's Resource CD-Rom with each of our products. Whereas other companies may create themed kits for dramatic play, we strive to create fun, educational Dramatic Play BoxesT that include many opportunities for learning. Each of our Dramatic Play Boxes include intentionally placed props (blank menus, party invitations, play money, etc) that encourage kids to use their early reading, writing and mathematical skills.

What ages are your products designed for? Our Dramatic Play Boxes are ideal for children from age 3 to age 8. You may wonder, "How can the same toy be appropriate for a 3 year old and an 8 year old?" The reason such a range of children can enjoy our Dramatic Play Boxes is because of their unique, child-centered design and open-ended nature. For example, with the Let's Play Restaurant! Dramatic Play Box, the menus are designed with large areas for the child to create their own menu items. A 3 year old may draw a picture of French fries as a menu item, whereas an 8 year old will likely test out their writing skills and actually write the words "French fries" on the menu. All of our Dramatic Play Boxes encourage multiple levels of thinking, allowing children of many ages to play together!

What is the connection between problem-solving, planning and imaginative play? When children are enacting a scene through imaginative play, there are steps required to set the scene and achieve their goals. For example, when playing restaurant, children must think logically about what they need to do before opening a restaurant, when a customer arrives, when the customer orders, and when they are leaving. For a birthday party children will also need to plan and problem solve: Who will be the birthday person? Who will we invite? When will the party take place? What will we do at the party?

Should I pretend play with my child? Absolutely. You can play an infinite number of roles in your child's imaginative world. The key is let your child lead the play so they can create, plan, solve, and work through the situations they generate using their imagination. You may casually introduce plot lines, problems and dialogue by being a character in play. Our Education Guide and Parents Resourece CD-Rom, which comes with each purchase, explains in detail how you can accomplish this if you desire.

What role does imaginative play have on my child's self-esteem? Through their play, children will learn and try out new skills in a non-threatening, non-competitive environment. Play is a natural setting for children to explore the world and begin to feel confident in their ability to solve problems, set goals, and be successful.