“Let’s Pretend to Be Family Members!”
Here's What To Do
Invite your child to play. Say, “Let’s have fun pretending to be the people in our family. Who’s in our family? Let’s name them together—like Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, or big sister.”
Set roles for the pretend play. Say, “Who do you want to pretend to be? I’ll pretend to be someone too!” Encourage your child to choose a role, like being Mommy or their big brother and you can be a different family member or family friend.
Using simple props, pretend together. For example, if your child pretends to be Daddy, you might say, “Daddy pours coffee in the morning. Can you pretend to pour coffee?” You can also use toy dolls to be other people in the family.
If time permits, switch roles and continue guiding and playing. Say, “Now I’ll be the baby, and you can be Grandma. What do you think Grandma does when the baby cries?”
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Turn off distractions like TVs and phones, and sit with your child in a calm space. Together name your family members.
Engage:
- “What does Grandma do when she visits? Can you show me?”
- “What’s your favorite thing about being like Mommy or Daddy?”
Encourage:
- “I love how you’re pretending to be Daddy! You’re doing such a good job pouring coffee just like him.”
- “You can take your time to think about what comes next—I’m here to help if you need me!”
Reflect:
- “What did you like best about our playtime?”
Not quite ready?
Start with simple actions, like naming family members and mimicking one thing they do (e.g., “Let’s pretend to wave like Grandma!”).
Ready for more?
Create a pretend family with your child, like having a "family dinner" or "getting ready for bed." Add more roles for dolls or stuffed animals, and let your child direct the play.
As your child masters this skill...
They will recognize family members and other important people and be able to describe their roles.