Tag Archives: pretend play

Fostering Pretend Play

Pretend play is very important for toddlers. As their language skills grow, they become more adapt at telling stories and pretend play. At this stage, having the opportunity for make believe will help them grow and develop to the best of their abilities. As they get a little older, toddlers can benefit from different “props” that help them explore jobs and activities that adults do. Copying the adults around them is a way for them to explore the world, gain confidence in themselves, develop more language skills and try new things in a safe environment. For pretend play, simple toys … Continue reading →

Dress Up Play for Boys

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Dress up boxes for little girls are easy to put together, but what can you do for little boys? Boys like to put on different clothes and have fun pretending too. I thought I’d share some of the things that have been in our costume box. Hats are fun and easy. And sometimes it’s all kids need to start rolling on a pretend game. When my oldest was a toddler, I bought a set of plastic hats that all my kids loved. There was a fireman’s hat, a construction hard hat, a police hat, and a motorcycle helmet. It was … Continue reading →

Playing Shop

Over the past several weeks the toy cash register, a gift from Santa Claus for Christmas 2006, has finally been seeing it’s first major action this year. This is as a result of the toy-repositioning project of autumn ’07 (also called never-ending home reconstruction). The cash register has helped turn our home, and virtually everything in it, into a pretend retail superstore – like Wal-Mart only with employee health insurance and really low prices – most everything in our house apparently will cost you somewhere between one and 8 cents! My girl, wife and I take turns playing customer and … Continue reading →

Let’s Pretend: How Do You Teach Your Toddler to Pretend?

This may sound like an odd topic, but the truth is pretending play is one of the best parts of childhood and children have fertile and amazing imaginations. Many believe that children spontaneously develop their imaginations and while this may be true for many, the truth is—you can help them to build this skill and talent. How do you help them? Here are a few ways that I have seen other parents as well as myself do in order to help them develop their talent for pretend. Obstacle Course Toddlers love to climb. They love to explore. So take a … Continue reading →

Engage In Pretend Play

Pretend play is valuable for children and adults benefit from entering a child’s imaginary world as well. When your child engages in pretend play they often mimic the adult world. They learn to understand responsibility. They try on different roles and explore a variety of careers. Children often mimic the adult world that they experience. You will see yourself in your child as they play. Once I caught my two-year-old daughter putting her doll in time out. Then she picked up the doll, gave it a hug, and said, “I still love you.” As children immerse themselves in pretend play … Continue reading →