Yes. Ages 2-4, 5-7 and 13+. It looks a little different (mostly) with ds1 than with younger kids, but he defintiely still plays, using his imagination. He daydreams, draws, creates scenes out of clay, role-plays (sort of - not in games - just suddenly being a pirate or something...and he's constantly speaking in speech patterns from movies and stuff - he does an amazing Captain Jack Sparrow, for instance) and also has a lot of enthusiasm for life and recreation of all kinds. (He's currently in acting classes, choir, and Ultimate. He also plays guitar, draws, juggles, and does gymnastics. He loves to be a counselor at Outdoor School, because he thinks kids are fun. He wants to take a dance class, and take a part in the school musical next year. He's hyped about eventually learning to work leather, blacksmith, blow glass, and a bunch of other things. He thinks those things are all fun.) He's already planning out this year's Halloween costume, and intends to get a job, just so he can afford all the components (he'll make it up himself, but he's doing the aforementioned Jack Sparrow, so it's not going to be cheap). He bought a large box of mini candy canes, just to hand them out to classmates at Christmas. He's just...fun...and very, very imaginative.
DD1 and ds2 are more into "typical" make believe...playing weddings and making up stories featuring movie characters, playing restaurant or store, and playing dressup...and playing with blocks and stuff. They both like to pretend that various toys are food, and go around serving them to everyone (coloured blocks might be blueberry pie and lemonade). They have a whole, huge, made-up world. I only know pieces of it.
ETA: Sorry to go on like that. For years, I kept expecting ds1 to acquire that almost jaded vibe that so many of his friends had by about 4th grade...and he never did. He's got the kind of enthusiasm I usually only see in little kids, and it makes me enthusiastic!
DD1 and ds2 are more into "typical" make believe...playing weddings and making up stories featuring movie characters, playing restaurant or store, and playing dressup...and playing with blocks and stuff. They both like to pretend that various toys are food, and go around serving them to everyone (coloured blocks might be blueberry pie and lemonade). They have a whole, huge, made-up world. I only know pieces of it.
ETA: Sorry to go on like that. For years, I kept expecting ds1 to acquire that almost jaded vibe that so many of his friends had by about 4th grade...and he never did. He's got the kind of enthusiasm I usually only see in little kids, and it makes me enthusiastic!
My 5yo is more into reading, researching, she's a little scientist.
