Taking Care of Others

Materials You Need:  Two dolls or stuffed animals; A blanket, jacket or coat; one bottle or sippy cup.  

What You Can Do Together: Before starting the activity, prepare the space in a quiet area that is free from distractions. 

Carry a doll in your arms and give one to your child. Show her/him the right way to hug the doll tenderly and carry it in their arms. You can say, "Look, they are tired" or "I love you" while hugging the doll. Invite your little one to do the same with her/his doll. 

You can also feed the doll with a sippy cup or bottle. When you finish pretending to feed her/him, give the bottle to your little one to do the same with her/his doll. Tell your little one, "They are cold," and wrap the doll with the blanket. Give your little one a blanket to cover her/his doll too, pretending you want to put it to sleep. 

You can repeat the activity with different actions, always inviting your little one to do the same. Little by little, your child will think of new ways to take care of her/his doll. With this activity, your little one will also learn to treat animals and pets with respect if you use stuffed animals instead of dolls. 

What Your Child is Learning:  With this activity, your little one will develop the ability to respond to the emotions of others. They will also learn to be kind to people and will be prepared for future social interactions.