• Home
    • Praise and Press
    • About
  • TLB Classes
    • Class Descriptions
    • Online Parent Education Classes
  • Blog
    • Homeschooling
    • Charlotte Mason
    • Booklist
    • Reading and Storytelling
    • Cultivating Love of Learning
    • Parenting Thoughts
      • Memory-Making
    • Five in a Row
      • Before Five in a Row
  • Shop
    • Request/Pre-Order Books Here
    • TLB Gift Card
    • My Account
    • View Cart
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Lost password
  • Book lists
    • Living Books Planning Tool
    • Filipino Living Books Book List
    • Philippine History: A Booklist
    • Catholic Homeschooling Booklist
  • Search the TLB Book Shop
    • Picture Books By Age
      • Board Books
      • Ages 0-2
      • Ages 2-4
      • Ages 4-6
      • Ages 6-8
    • Chapter Books
      • Ages 8-10
      • Ages 10 up
    • Homeschooling
      • CM Homeschooling/Living Books
      • Five in a Row
      • Before Five in a Row
      • Math Books
      • Catholic Books
    • Philippine Published Books
      • Free Downloads
      • Ages 0 to 2
      • Ages 2 to 4
      • Ages 4 to 6
      • Ages 6 to 8
      • Ages 8 to 10
      • Ages 10 and up
      • Chapter Books
      • Board Books
    • Classics
    • Award-Winning Books
    • Recommended Reads for Parents
    • Educational Toys and Materials

The Learning Basket

You Are Your Child's First and Best Teacher

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Let’s Play Pretend!

February 28, 2013 by The Learning Basket 22 Comments

  • Total80
  • 80
  • 0
  • 0

On any given day, you’ll see Little T running around in a gown or a ballet outfit. Sometimes, she has on her head a white rag that her brother Little Sir holds gingerly after her. Depending on her mood, she is a princess, a ballerina, a bride, a cook, a singer, a guitarist.

Two-year-old Little Sir, on the other hand, is up-to-speed with his sister’s make-believe world, and can easily slip into the role of a prince, a danseur (who does a mean arabesque!), a groom, a restaurant customer, audience, and a singer singing “Goodnight Gorilla.” He’s now also beginning to create his own stories. He drives around holding a round plastic plate, vacuums the floor with a roll of plastic wrapper, or holds up a mango to his face and says it’s his nebulizer!

pretend play

Pretending to vacuum  

The Beauty of Pretend Play

I believe in the power of pretend play to build language, social-emotional, and problem-solving skills, among others.

When my children are “playing restaurant,” they use language appropriate for the setting: here’s your order ma’am, enjoy your spinach salad, here’s your change, or in Little Sir’s case, glug, glug, glug, glug! More!

Playing pretend also allows them to be in other people’s shoes. One of their favorite games these days is “Mama, Mama” wherein Little T is the mama and Little Sir is the baby. The baby would call out Mama! Mama! and the little mama would come running to lift the baby up. I love seeing our interactions reflected in their play!

Oftentimes, I hear my daughter wondering about how she will make something, like a camping set-up, a snowy day, or a basket of berries. She’ll then rattle off her ideas, the product of her thinking, and run off to do it. Problem solved!

Encouraging Imagination

I’ve set out to encourage imagination in my children right from the start. Starting with just a costume box, we now have a closet dedicated to clothes and accessories that they use for pretend.

When it comes to toys, I don’t buy a lot – I think! When I do go shopping, I naturally gravitate towards pretend toys that that can be played with in a number of ways and that will be used by my children for a long time. These are usually classic, wooden toys that even I love playing with!

A staple now in our playroom is our pretend kitchen with a stove and a sink, wooden dishes, and a wooden tea set. My children can play for hours with these toys and my little boy can be found in the playroom by himself, washing dishes or cooking up something on his own.

pretend play

Be our guest!

I love how my two little one get deep into their pretend world. With very limited screen-time, they are able to focus on what they are supposed to be doing at this stage in their lives – play, play, and play!

How do you encourage pretend play in your home?

tlb heart 

Related Posts

  • We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: What an Adventure!We’re Going on a Bear Hunt: What an Adventure!
  • 5 Ways to Explore Ancient Egypt5 Ways to Explore Ancient Egypt
  • How we kicked our child’s TV-while-eating habitHow we kicked our child’s TV-while-eating habit
  • A Notebook and A Pen: Encouraging Story-Writing in Young ChildrenA Notebook and A Pen: Encouraging Story-Writing in Young Children
  • Mother Culture: The Gift Of Giving Time To OurselvesMother Culture: The Gift Of Giving Time To Ourselves
  • 5 Things You Can Do to Teach Kids How to Pray the Rosary5 Things You Can Do to Teach Kids How to Pray the Rosary
  • Exploring Russia with Domes, Dolls, and Tea CakesExploring Russia with Domes, Dolls, and Tea Cakes
  • Even Small Kids Can Learn Big WordsEven Small Kids Can Learn Big Words
  • Total80
  • 80
  • 0
  • 0
«
»

About The Learning Basket

TLB is composed of two moms who love to read and are homeschoolers.

Welcome


Hi there!

Whether you are a busy working mom, a work-at-home mom, or a stay-at-home mom, you are sure to find parenting and learning inspiration on our pages and parent education workshops to empower you to be your child’s first and best teacher.

Make magic with your child!

Search for Blog Posts

Search Learning Ideas

  • Before Five in a Row
  • Booklist
  • Charlotte Mason
  • Cultivating Love of Learning
  • Educational Materials
  • Five in a Row
  • Fun Friday Ideas
  • Homeschooling
  • Memory-Making
  • Parent Education
  • Parenting Thoughts
  • Past Parent Education Classes
  • Reading and Storytelling
  • Uncategorized

Upcoming Events

preschool homeschool

NOW OPEN — Everything you need to start homeschooling your preschooler is right here (Feb 11 to March 4 2023)

In these uncertain times, we can still enjoy our children while helping them to love learning. Learn everything you need to know to start homeschooling your preschooler in this comprehensive online parent education program.

Subscribe

Get updates on learning ideas, parenting events & shop offers!

Copyright © 2023 · Web Design by Fancy Girl Design Studio · Shop Set Up by Marge Aberásturi

Copyright © 2023 · Learning Basket Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in