Let’s Pretend

September 2, 2010 by Lisa Freeman
Posted in•Social Thinking•Early Childhood

A child’s world is full of pretend and make-believe.

When they are playing with blocks we ask ‘What are you building?’ The expectation is that they will use their imagination to envision the blocks as something other than squares of wood. A farm. A garage. A hospital.  Many of the children we see don’t know how to ‘make-believe’.

Pretending is important. It means that you’re thinking about someone else, taking their view of the world and empathizing with them. Practice pretending with your child. Lead them through different scenarios. Act it out with them. Don’t take it for granted that they know how to play pretend. Don’t take it for granted that they know what to say or do. Pretend with them. Talk about what you are doing. Give them the script for how to pretend. At s2s we have the students role play and act out the skills we are teaching.  Actions speak louder than words.

< < Back

WELCOME TO Social Steps insights, news and information on helping children and adults navigate the social world