The power of pretend play: How toys help expand kids' imagination


Lim has been collecting miniature vehicles since he was two. Photo: Tomica

As someone who works in education, mother-of-one Jasmine Ng, 39, understands the power of pretend play. So when his son, Tyler Lim, four, showed interest in miniature vehicles when he was two, she encouraged his new hobby.

"It started with his first set of Tomica vehicles," she says. Two-and-a-half years later, Lim has about 100 Tomica vehicles and 15 toys sets. When the family went to Tokyo earlier this year, Lim's parents took him to the Tomica store, to his delight.

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