Pretend plays are the most valuable learning experiences a child can have. Pretend plays or imaginary plays make the child to be like some one else. It is a huge leap to their understanding and learning experience. After all it is not just ABCs, Maths and language. It is something beyond, that helps to build their confidence level and creativity.
Thus embrace it and trust me some where it will stop and you will be having a child that has grown up and has their own busy world. But how much pretend plays actually they need is a huge question at our home.. I swear that we do get tired easily with the non stop hours of pretend plays but it definitely pay off to know that our little one is working very hard to grab new learning experience through playing. Here i came across an useful article about pretend plays:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/tired-of-playing-pretend-with-her-daughter/2014/02/04/9ff29360-89d3-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_story.html
Cheers!!