Dress-up
Romper reports on the importance of kids playing “grown-up” things:
“The pretend-play area of a preschool classroom (sometimes referred to as “dramatic play”) is where kids act out the routines they know from everyday life. Sometimes teachers set up their dramatic play area to simulate a grocery store, doctor’s office, or other familiar setting. As they interact, children learn how to share, cooperate, resolve conflicts, and express themselves verbally. They set their own rules (“You be the mommy and I’ll be the baby”) and work out their personal anxieties (a child afraid of getting shots at the doctor might enjoy playing a doctor giving vaccinations to a doll).”
We have all seen our children mimic our behavior (some of which we wish they wouldn’t..yikes!).
Trying to rock their baby doll like we rock the baby, or cooking up plastic entrees like we prepare dinner, is getting our kids ready for the real world in a practical way.