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 organizes objects by size — building narrative thinking, social understanding, and early classification skills.
Free to do together whenever you like.
What you'll need
Clear play area with space to arrange stuffed animals. Gather stuffed animals/toy pets of different sizes. Optional: cardboard tube (pretend stethoscope), toilet paper or cloth strips (bandages). Parent and child seated together.
How it works
The 3-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
- MilestoneInvites others into pretend playHeart· 2.5y–3y· core
- MilestoneCreates pretend small world stories with toysMind· 3y–4y· stretch· Step 3
- MilestoneDiscriminates bigger and smallerMind· 2.2y–3y· stretch
- MilestonePretends with imagined roles or thingsMind· 2y–3y· core· Step 1
- MilestoneUses symbolic substitution (objects and words) in playMind· 20mo–3y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneExpresses size conceptsMind· 16mo–2.2y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneCompares object propertiesMind· 2.8y–5y· core· Step 2
- MilestoneSimple pretend playMind· 14mo–2.2y· core· Step 3
- MilestoneSeeks out others to share experiences.Heart· 14mo–2.2y· core· Step 1
Visual example
Coming soon