Kids don’t just “play pretend” — they build worlds.

In this episode of THIS with Krish, we talk about why letting your kids have a superhero, an imagination, and even a little chaos is one of the most important things you can do for their development (and your sanity). I share real stories from our home — my son Liam, who’s never been much into toys but thrives outdoors, and my daughter Brynlee, whose living room toy kingdom could qualify as a FEMA zone. But behind the mess is something beautiful — a mind learning empathy, emotion, and creativity in real time.

We’ll also dive into some fascinating research on the psychology of pretend play:

🧠 Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child — explains how imagination helps kids process emotions, build empathy, and develop executive function.

🦸‍♂️ University of Minnesota’s “Batman Effect” study — found that kids who pretended to be superheroes had greater persistence and focus during difficult tasks.

💬 American Academy of Pediatrics — notes that imaginative play directly supports emotional regulation, language skills, and problem-solving. So yeah — that pile of toys on your floor isn’t chaos… it’s creativity under construction.

Watch, laugh, and maybe see your kids a little differently after this one.

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