Pretending is very important in the life of children.
Pretend play helps children develop their imaginations. Just like you have to exercise your muscles to be able to run a race, children need to exercise the imagination part of their brains to become creative, artistic people.
This imagination that starts early in life with pretend play takes on special importance as children grow up and begin to think about their place in the world and what career they might be interested in. The work world that our children will be part of is going to be more about imagination, creativity, and innovation than it has ever been in the past.
Picture Book Parenting 