How to Use Postcards for Imaginative Play with Kids
By Honeybee Toys | Published: 2026-10-23
Category: Tips & Care
Discover simple, creative ways to turn postcards into props for storytelling, sorting, and pretend play. Perfect for quiet time or rainy afternoons.
Quick answer
Postcards make excellent, low-cost props for imaginative play. Use them as story starters, sorting games, or pretend travel tickets to spark creativity without screens.
Why postcards work for play
Unlike standard flashcards, illustrated postcards like those from Mhairi Hellbrandt offer rich, hand-drawn scenes that invite children to invent stories. The small size is easy for little hands to hold, and the sturdy cardstock survives repeated handling.
The main trade-off is that postcards are not toys with moving parts. They rely on your child's imagination and a bit of adult setup. For children under three, supervise to prevent bending or tearing.
Steps for postcard play
- Story starter circle: Lay 3–5 postcards face up. Ask your child to pick one and tell a story about what is happening in the scene. For example, "What do you think the mermaid is looking at?" Let your child lead the story. If they get stuck, ask one open question like "What happens next?"
- Sorting and matching game: Gather postcards with different themes (e.g., animals, fantasy, seasons). Ask your child to sort them into piles by color, mood, or subject. This builds categorization skills. Avoid correcting the sort — any grouping that makes sense to your child is valid. The goal is flexible thinking.
- Pretend travel tickets: Use a postcard as a ticket to a pretend destination. Your child can "board" a couch or chair and describe where they are going based on the postcard image. You can play along by asking about the weather or local food. If your child is shy, start by showing your own ticket and describing your imaginary trip first.
Product facts
- Postcard Nap Time: Postcard Nap Time features a hand-drawn scene by illustrator Mhairi Hellbrandt, created with watercolour pencils, paints, collages, and gouache. The layered artwork gives children visual details to describe and build stories around, making it a natural conversation starter.
Postcard Nap Time - Postcard Mermaid Blue: Postcard Mermaid Blue also comes from Mhairi Hellbrandt's magical hand-drawn world, mixing watercolour pencils and collage. The mermaid theme invites ocean or fantasy pretend play, and the art style is distinct enough to contrast with Nap Time for sorting or matching games.
Postcard Mermaid Blue
