Pretending with My Doll

Materials You Need: A doll or a stuffed animal or anything similar; A few other materials like a small cup and a blanket or cloth; Anything else that your child might use to pretend.

What You Can Do Together: At this age, your child is beginning to “play pretend”— to use objects to create simple scenes that are familiar to your child. You can encourage this kind of play in simple ways. Sit with your child, take a favourite doll, soft bear or other similar toy (even made from socks and cloth) and pretend that the doll is a baby. You might rock the doll, sing a little song, “feed” with a cup, or tuck into a pretend bed — anything at all, but keep it simple. Put the doll down and see what your child does. He or she might do what you did or use the materials in a different way. You can describe what your child is doing — “Oh, is your baby sleepy? You are saying good-night!” Keep playing as long as your child is interested.  Leave the materials where your child can find and use them again on her own. Add new materials from time to time to keep an interest high.

What Your Child Is Learning: This kind of play stimulates your child’s thinking skills as he or she uses one thing (such as a little toy bear) to “be” another (such as a real baby). This kind of thinking builds foundations for later academic competence. It also stimulates creativity and imagination and strengthens your bonds with your child as you spend time in enjoyable, playful activities.