Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Pretend Play


Sam has been really into pretend play lately. I know this is a standard developmental milestone, but for me, it’s just plain FUN.

For a long time, Sam mainly pretended to play the sports that his big brothers play. He loves to dribble the basketball and be the batter. And, of course, he LOVES to be the catcher (and just about anything will work as a catcher’s mask).

More recently, though, Sam’s pretend play has extended beyond sports. Aunt Mia got Sam some fun hats for Hanukkah – we’ve had Policeman Sam and Fireman Sam and Construction Sam and even Pirate Sam! Rockstar Sam has also visited lately, thanks to the microphone, guitar, and almost complete band sets (maracas, tambourine, drum, triangle, etc.) that were also Hanukkah and Christmas gifts.

He talks a lot about the “home center” at school and, according to his teachers, plays there quite often, vacuuming away (note that he’s TERRIFIED of the vacuum at home) and pretending to cook and eat with his friends. Santa brought Sam a play vacuum and Granny got him a play kitchen, both of which have gotten lots of play time at home. He even goes so far as to insist that one use a pot holder (often one of my kitchen towels) to take a pot out of the play oven or off the play stove. The kitchen came with a serving dish that sings, and Sam now knows all the songs (note – the songs are AWESOME, all about manners and cleanup and cooking being a way to show love).

And there’s one more pretend play Sam’s been into lately—“baby brudder.” No, I’m not making any announcements; Sam has decided that the Dapper Dan doll that Santa brought last year is his baby brother. Sam loves on baby brudder, wraps him in blankets, wants to wash his hands, and brush his teeth. He even wants to sleep with baby brudder and has taken him to school the last two days. I’m not really sure what has prompted the big brother urge in Sam, though I’m sure the arrival of several classmates’ new siblings, including best friend Lily’s little brother, has had some influence.

All in all, this pretend play stage is one of my favorites thus far. Keep it coming, Sam. Keep it coming. What is/was your favorite stage?


Julie Daneman is wife to Bryan, Stepmom to Jacob and Caleb, and Mommy to Sam. They are a boisterous, loving, happy interfaith family.



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