The best part is, pretend play can happen any time, anywhere, and with whatever you can get your child’s hands on.
Here’s where you can also incorporate improvisation and problem-solving, and encourage appropriate behaviours and correct inappropriate ones. Ready to begin? Here are 3 fun scenarios to inspire you, but feel free to let your imagination take the lead.
Playing along with everyday objects
The Little Explorer
Get your exploratory mode on with 2 toilet rolls as your binoculars and the sofa as your vessel. Need more excitement? Hide a ‘treasure’ within the house and get your child to go on a fun little hunt!
Burger Restaurant
Start your very own burger restaurant, and line up the soft toys as your little customers. Make pretend burgers using coasters, and serve them up! You can even introduce the idea of payment using small toy bricks as currency.
Into the Wild
Pitch a home tent with 2 chairs and a blanket and imagine yourselves camping out in the wild. Use torches to create a campfire, and spark his imagination about what’s outside the tent. Add to the fun by playing animal sounds!!
Once your child gets used to the idea of pretend play, you can
dream up even more creative scenarios. Here’s one about the zoo.