If you are looking for something fun to add to your child’s imaginative and dressing up play collection then this Fighter Henry water spray is just the thing. You don’t have to fill it with water inside, by the way, it can be used just for dressing up play indoors without the added water.
I work with children and dressing up, imaginative play and pretend play are a really important part of childhood and a lot of the time you don’t need to give them a lot for them to create, play and have fun using their own minds but sometimes it’s great to give them a fun few tools and toys to to encourage them.
Imaginative play is super important for children – it’s more than just having a bit of fun. When children engage in make-believe, they’re not just pretending; they’re learning vital life skills. By creating their own little worlds and stories, they’re exploring emotions, developing social skills, and practising problem-solving in ways they wouldn’t get to otherwise.
Firstly, imaginative play lets children work through their feelings in a safe way. If something’s on their mind, like a recent move or a new sibling, they often bring it into their play. By acting it out, they’re learning to understand and manage their emotions, which can help build emotional resilience over time. You might see a child playing “doctor” to feel more comfortable with a recent trip to the GP or “cooking” to make sense of daily family life.
Social skills also come on leaps and bounds through pretend play. When children role-play, they naturally take turns, negotiate, and cooperate with others, which is crucial for building friendships. In a game where one child is the “shopkeeper” and the other is the “customer,” they’re practising how to communicate, listen, and empathise with different perspectives – all key skills for real-life interactions.
Finally, imaginative play boosts creativity and problem-solving skills. When children create scenarios or build little worlds out of blocks, they’re experimenting, learning to think flexibly, and coming up with their own solutions. This creativity is linked to cognitive development, as they start seeing possibilities and connections in new ways, making them more adaptable thinkers.
In short, imaginative play is essential because it nurtures emotional intelligence, social skills, and creative thinking – all things that should help kids grow into well-rounded, resilient adults.
This fantastic 32cm wide Fighter Henry water sprayer from Wicked Uncle has two fully adjustable straps for a perfect fit and is fabulously light for a child to comfortably wear on their back. Perfect for water fights and imaginative play, have fun putting out pretend fires by squirting water, with an easy pump action and both single and multi spraying functions. This mega water sprayer is every tiny hero’s dream and makes a perfect birthday or Christmas gift.
We think this is a brilliant toy, and it’s gone down so well with the children at the group I run each week, although we are having to learn to share, another childhood skill that develops over time. Retailing for just under £20, it’s well made and should stand the test of time and much imaginative play.
We have Fighter Henry set to giveaway too. Head over to our Instagram CatsKidsChaos to find out how you can enter to win it.