Learning Outcomes: Listening and Speaking, Creativity
The simplest things make the best toys when combined with a little imagination and you! For example, take an empty box and ask your child, "What could we pretend with a box? What's the plan? How will we turn this into a (boat, car, rocket, etc.)? Where will we go?"
Why It's Important
Pretend play feeds your child's imagination. Games like this also help your child learn how to plan ahead to make the story end a certain way.
Not Ready Yet
Suggest a few possible pretend activities to your child. Ask how you can incorporate the box into the pretend play. If your child doesn't have any ideas, offer two or three suggestions and let your child pick.
Need a Challenge
For a challenge, start the pretend story as your child has envisioned it. Then make up a signal like a bell (say, "Ding, ding, ding") and change the story. Your child has to change the pretending and act out what you are saying. Switch and let your child tell the story.
