You may be surprised to know that not all children are into pretend play. It can be challenging to a child with special needs, say autism, to engage in pretend play. They live in a very tangible world. Anything that is abstract is almost incomprehensible for her.
Will they ever be able to pretend?
What is important about it? And why do children pretend?
"one reason children pretend is that it helps them make sense out of the
world. As children play and replay familiar events, they understand
them better."
The ever famous, pretend play would be the Teddy Bear Tea Party. The child is usually the hostess, while the stuff animals, teddy bears and dolls, attend as guests. Usually, pretend play starts off with a food theme, since it is an everyday encounter for a child. The act of eating, preparing of the food, serving, and eventually hosting of a party, are stages they evolve from.
When you play hostess at your party, you are also a role model for your child. She watches you and learns what you serve and how you handle the party. In turn, she will fantasize it and re-enact it, how she sees it, through her eyes.
As pretend play emerges, a child is about two years old, it will help the child make sense of the world around her. "As children become familiar with a specific imaginary theme, they begin to recognize, at least in that limited context, the difference between reality and fantasy."
If your child is challenged with pretend play, give it time. She will eventually get there. After a long wait, Ivan now pretend play, very well. He has story telling and narration to go with it as well.
Book: Your Child At Play: Two to Three Years by Marilyn Segal, Ph.D.
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