Age Four: Big Play, Imaginative Play

My boys are now almost 4 1/2.  They have crossed into the threshold of being preschoolers with this their play has developed.  Where once they just wanted to try new experiences, now they want to try new games, make up their own games, play with rules, make their own rules, and imagine!  It is a beautiful time.  I try to make sure that each day they get unstructured play time that lets them create their own worlds and their own play.  Lately much of their play happens on their balance bikes as they zoom around our hilly yard.  It is not so big, but there is room for loops, boards and hoses to ride over, and dirt and woodchips to land in- creating giant dust storms and practicing dramatic falls.  The boys have a neighbor friend who often comes over and adds chants and song to their rides which they echo with glee.  And today they started to have a more cohesive storyline to their bike loops.   Their bike train has turned into firetrucks.   They put out fires and fight dragons.