Making a Pretend Meal

Materials You Need: The activity theme (making a meal) is just an example. The materials can be different depending on the play.

Some unbreakable dishes, cups, and spoons; Places and objects your child can use for a pretend stove and fridge (might just be cardboard boxes or a table); Items your child can use for cooking pots or other utensils (safe and small; the item does not have to look exactly like what your child pretends it is)

What You Can Do Together: At this age, most likely your child is “playing pretend” often. This activity is an example of how you can encourage your child to make her or his play a bit more complex and get others involved.  At a quiet time, put out the materials for the play and (in this example) say, “Maybe it will be fun to pretend you are making a meal — would you like that?  Look, here are [etcetera].  What do you think you will make?” Continue by having a conversation about the pretend meal and providing or pretending to provide other items.

Then you can also say, “I (or Papa or big sister) can be your helper.  What can I do to help?”  Or others in the family can pretend to sit and eat the pretend meal.

This and other pretend scenarios can be played over and over.

What Your Child is Learning:  Your child’s thinking skills are supported when he or she makes belief, pretending (for example) that a box is a stove or a small ball is an egg). Involving others in the play, whether family or other children, strengthens your child’s social competence and ability to cooperate.