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SOLD OUT Dames in Shining Armour

$69.95

Description

The Dames in shining armour wooden set helps slay dragons and stereotypes in ‘one fell swoop’! This 9 piece natural wooden set includes a castle, two fire-breathing dragons, two female knights, a wizard, and a skeleton laden cave. A brilliant playset for encouraging pretend play while normalizing feminine-presenting characters in traditionally masculine roles. The beautifully illustrated images are printed using non-toxic heat transfer technology and sealed with a clear matte varnish to ensure they look as good as the day you buy it!

Details:

  • 9 pieces in each set.
  • Comes packaged in a large Page & Pine bag to make pack up a breeze
  • Largest piece 25cm tall and smallest at 6.5cm.
  • Made with FSC natural wood
  • Suitable for children ages 2 years and over.

The Science of Pretend Play

Pretend play, sometimes referred to as imaginative play, has endless benefits for children. First and foremost, pretend play enables children to practice their social and emotional skills, allowing them to role play social scenarios in a low risk environment. 

Not only do they practice social and emotional skills they also build empathy! During pretend play children assume different roles and practice perspective taking. Perspective taking, or theory of mind, is a hard won skill developed through practice over many years in childhood, and it is the key to growing into a healthy empathetic adult. Giving children opportunities to build this skill in a way that is engaging and expansive for them is crucial. Add to all of this the fact that research finds that toddlers who engage in pretend play also tend to have stronger vocabularies and communication skills in their preschool years and pretend play might truly be the most important thing your child does each day. 

The Dames in Shining Armour set is the perfect play prompt to encourage pretend play from your children. There are no rules to who the characters can be or whether the castle is a dragon’s home or a princess’s castle needing protection by the might knights. Or if perhaps the dragons are aliens masquerading as these medieval fictional creatures attempting to abduct the Sir Lancelot. The world children can create in the Dames in Shining Armour, also more constrained to fairy tales than the Happy Little Architect, might help stimulate a child’s mind and help them decide on a storyline. 

How you can use these toys to promote scientific thinking: 

  • Ask questions about how your child thinks the castle or cave stands up
  • Encourage hypothesis testing (e.g., what would happen if we remove the pieces side pieces of the castle? Let's see!)
  • Point out weird or unexpected things that could challenge the way they think about the world
  • Encourage your child to lead (but remember it's okay if you take turns leading - this is normal too!) 
  • Ask open ended questions

Remember: ALL play is educational, even if it doesn't look like it to you. Play is a child's purpose. Play of any kind, with or without toys, is the most important thing your child will do. Today, tomorrow and every day!

Manufacturer: Freckled Frog