🧸 Play & Pretend
Doctor Visit
Take turns being the doctor and explaining what hurts and why.
10 min🔵 Expanding Language
Goal
Practice body words and explaining a problem.
🎨 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
- 1Choose a patient — a toy works great.
- 2The doctor asks questions; the patient explains.
- 3Give the patient a plan to feel better.
Example conversation
Child: Where does it hurt?
You: My elbow hurts because I fell off my bike.
Extra questions
- How did it happen?
- What will help?
- When should we come back?
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.