The Progression of Pretend Play
Last week, we talked about how foundational language is essential for pretend play. You learned basic steps to help inform your child about their environment and simple ways to model pretend play. This week is a good one! We’re discussing the progression of pretend play.
In the Play Guide, we provide you with our 5-step play method. One of the steps is to “meet your child where they are”. One of the ways we do this is through observation. This is an important part of the play process because it provides you with valuable information about your child. This information can be used to help you:
Determine what to model for pretend play.
Know where they are in the progression.
Decide how you can interact.
What to add in to elevate them to the next level.
Take a look at the chart below. It was adapted from The Hanen Centre.
Keep in mind:
The age ranges listed are when we typically see each stage emerge.
Just because your child is now in one stage of pretend play doesn’t mean that they won’t go back to another stage or exhibit several skills in one play session.
Ways to encourage pretend play:
Get on the floor and at eye level with your child. Play what they are interested in.
If your child is not yet demonstrating pretend play skills, your next step is to model “self pretend” play. Pretend to drink from a cup or eat from a spoon. Try making noises like “ahhh” or “mmmm” to pretend it tastes good. Use gestures like rubbing your belly. “I’m hungry”. Incorporate simple sign language for “milk” or “eat” if you’d like.
Imitate your child’s actions and/or language (non-verbal and verbal skills) If they are pretending to feed the baby doll, you can do the same with another doll or stuffed animal.
Model pretend play actions and/or language an then expand on what they are already doing. If they are pretending to feed a doll. Add in giving the doll a drink or wiping the doll’s mouth.
Add just one new element at a time. If your child is pretending the stuffed animal is asleep, the next new element to add might be that you wake him up.
At ETP, we believe play increases learning, language, and life skills. We’ve got simple prompts and simple steps to help make it happen. Let us show you how.
