Skill· 2y–3y· 3 min
Vet Clinic Pretend Play
Parent and child pretend to run a veterinary clinic using stuffed animals as patients. The agent coaches the parent to observe how the child incorporates others into imaginative play and uses numbers meaningfully — building cognitive skills in imagination, social understanding, and early numeracy through role-play.
Free to do together whenever you like.
What you'll need
Gather 3-5 stuffed animals, a pretend stethoscope (or improvised one), and a roll of toilet paper. Clear a play area where animals can be placed on 'sick beds' (chairs, pillows, or shelves). Parent and child should be face-to-face for interaction.
How it works
The 3-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestonePretends with imagined roles or thingsMind· 2y–3y· core· Steps 1, 3
- MilestoneCreates pretend small world stories with toysMind· 3y–4y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneEnacts a pretend roleMind· 3y–5y· stretch· Step 1
- MilestoneInvites others into pretend playHeart· 2.5y–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneAnswers simple open questionsMind· 2.3y–3.3y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneSimple pretend playMind· 14mo–2.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneUses three- to five-word sentencesMind· 2y–4y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneBeginning to talk about people and things that are not present.Mind· 16mo–2.2y· stretch· Step 2
Visual example
Coming soon