Toddler Tales (26): Let's Pretend!

The flowering of imagination is one of the best phases of growing up. Little Dude had already started showing interest in pretend play since he turned two. It was mostly limited to playing with stuffed animals and making them do things. Since his language is now more fluent, he is able to verbalise his imagination, and I can share in what he's thinking. So, he'll pick up a bag and say, I'm going to school! He'll get on his tricycle and say, I'm going to the market! He quickly picks up ideas from what he sees around him or what he watches on TV (which, of course, has to be carefully monitored). He tries hard to combine his sentences to share the ideas in his head. His favourite activity is playing with water. All his toys have been through some water play, whether they are suited for it or not!

I'm trying to fuel his interest in pretend play by making up different scenarios as we play. So, his little tent house becomes a rocket which is flying to the moon. Once we get to the moon, though, he decides he wants to go back home! Recently, we created a supermarket (as department stores are called in Dubai), and he had fun putting things in his basket. He wanted his money back though, so I'm not sure the concept is clear to him! I'm really looking forward to some imaginative play with him, and to what surprises his busy mind has in store.

(Toddler Tales are snippets of what I'm learning every day from my little one.)

This post has been linked to Small Steps Amazing Achievements.