Now she looks around the room. Her hands are on her hips. And they dance. Early imagination Imaginative play begins when a child is about 16 month old, said Guddemi, the specialist in early childhood development. It is most prevalent from ages 4 to 7.
Children take on the persona of other characters and tend to believe they are the characters.
After age 7, dramatic play becomes internal. That's called daydreaming. Guddemi said of dramatic play. Often, children will imitate the motions of their parents. Preschoolers, said the extension service's Gnatuk, benefit from having such props as necklaces, oversize shoes, dresses and jackets lying about.