BGPF054 | Pretend Play Orientation
By Dr. Rajeev Tamhankar
This activity introduces pretend play by involving the baby in feeding a teddy bear using toy utensils. It enhances motor skills, social interaction, and vocabulary development, while fostering imagination and cognitive skills.
- Setup: Sit on a comfortable surface with your baby.
- Demonstrate: Use a toy spoon or bowl to “feed” a teddy bear, narrating your actions with phrases like “Teddy is hungry!”.
- Engage the Baby: Hand over the toy spoon to encourage the baby to mimic the action. If the baby cannot grasp yet, let them observe you.
- Expand Interaction: Add steps like pretending to pour juice, wiping the teddy’s mouth, or offering pretend food.
- Encourage Repetition: Repeat actions, exaggerating expressions and sounds to hold the baby’s attention.
- Follow Baby’s Cues: Adapt the play to the baby’s interests or favorite objects.
- Stimulates imagination and creativity.
- Enhances hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
- Builds vocabulary and social interaction skills.
- Strengthens the parent-child bond.
- Use simple, exaggerated sounds and expressions to grab attention (“Mmm, yummy!”).
- Rotate toys to keep the activity fresh and interesting.
- Narrate actions to develop language skills (“Let’s give Teddy some juice!”).
- Avoid over-structuring; allow the baby to lead as much as possible.
- Integrate everyday items for realistic play.
- A soft toy (e.g., a teddy bear).
- Toy utensils (spoon, bowl, cup).
- A small washcloth or napkin.
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