Playing Pretend

Toddlers love to play dress up and let’s pretend. My daughter is currently very much into pretending to be a nurse. This activity is a good way to teach your child about the role of doctors and nurses and also to build their confidence for times when they may have to see one. Use the tips which follow to let your toddlers imagination go …

Age group: 3years+

What you need:

• Toys doctors equipment-cheap ones are available from many toy stores. I have given my toddler a litle bag with old medicine measures, washed and dried old plastic medicine bottles, syringes (without needles) bandages, plastic tweezers and a child friendly magnifying glass.
• We are lucky enough to have a nurses outfit for dress up which is great but not essential.
• Soft toys and dolls

What to do:

1. Put all your toddlers soft toys and dolls on her bed (or in a dolls bed if you have one) and have her tend to the sick!
2. So far my daughter has taken a splinter out of her dolls foot, fixed  her teddy’s heart with magic kisses and given her baby medicine for sore teeth, runny noses and temperatures.
3. My 16 month old son was labelled a visitor and was allowed to visit the sick in hospital where the nurse explained to him what was wrong with each  patient. It is wonderful to watch!