🧸 Play & Pretend
Birthday Party
Throw a pretend party and invite each toy out loud by name.
10 min🟢 Early Communicator
Goal
Practice names, greetings and simple requests.
🎨 Maya is here today
Maya is drawing along with you, tell her what colors you'd use.
💡 Why this matters
Pretending lets children rehearse real life safely, try new words out loud, and speak as somebody braver than they feel.
How to play
- 1Set up the party.
- 2Invite each toy by name out loud.
- 3Sing and serve pretend cake.
Example conversation
Child: Come in, Bunny! Sit here.
You: Happy birthday, Bunny!
Extra questions
- Who's coming next?
- What flavor is the cake?
- What present did they bring?
Skills practiced
- ✔ Pretend play
- ✔ Vocabulary
- ✔ Turn-taking
Materials needed
None — just you and your child.
❤️ Parent tip
Let your child lead, even when the story makes no sense.
Try it during
- 🧸 With stuffed animals
- 🧱 With blocks
- 🍳 With kitchen toys
- 📦 With cardboard boxes
- 👗 Dress-up clothes
- 🌳 Outside in the yard
Same activity, many moments — pick whichever fits your day.