Pretend Play for One Year Olds to Boost Big Imagination
My daughter has started pretend play, and she’s only 18 months old. it’s honestly the cutest thing ever!
She started by washing her little duckies in the bath with soap and then drying them off. Next, she began feeding her baby doll playdough.
Sometimes I catch her cleaning the floor with her dress or pretending to apply my hand cream and rubbing it on her tiny hands.
It’s so funny that she mimics what she sees us doing. Every time, she surprises me with something new.
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In this post, I’ll share why pretend play is so important and how you can encourage it! Plus, some of the best toys to help encourage pretend play.
You can use everyday items from around the house or buy toys to support their imagination.
Either way, these activities are fun and beneficial for your little one!
What is Pretend Play?
Pretend play, also known as imaginative or symbolic play, is when children use their imagination to create scenarios and act them out.
They might pretend to be a doctor, a chef, a parent, or even an animal.
For one-year-olds, this can be as simple as feeding a doll or making car noises while pushing a toy car.
It’s their way of exploring and making sense of the world around them.
The Importance of Pretend Play
Pretend play is more than just fun; it’s a critical part of child development.
When children engage in imaginative play, they learn about the world around them, developing social skills, and enhancing their cognitive abilities.
Pretend play helps children understand different roles, relationships, and emotions, which are essential for their overall growth and development.
Related: 64 Fun and Easy Things to Teach A One Year Old
At What Age Do Toddlers Start to Pretend Play?
While some forms of pretend play can start as early as 12 months, most toddlers begin to engage in more elaborate pretend play between 18-24 months.
This is when they start to imitate adult behaviors and create their own scenarios.
By observing their play, you can see how their imagination and understanding of the world are growing.
What are the Benefits of Imaginative Play?
Here are some of the amazing benefits:
- Cognitive Development: Pretend play helps children understand the world and how it works. They learn about cause and effect, problem-solving, and critical thinking. For example, when my daughter pretends to wash her duckies, she’s learning about hygiene and routines.
- Social and Emotional Development: Through role-playing, toddlers learn to understand different emotions and social roles. They practice empathy by taking care of their dolls or stuffed animals, which can help them relate better to others.
- Language Skills: Engaging in pretend play can boost a child’s vocabulary and language skills. As they narrate their play and communicate with their toys, they learn new words and phrases.
- Creativity and Imagination: Pretend play encourages creativity and imagination. It allows children to think outside the box and come up with unique scenarios and solutions.
How to Encourage Pretend Play for One Year Olds
Here are some simple, fun ways to spark your little one’s imagination
Sing and Move
Songs with gestures are a great way to introduce pretend play.
Take a classic like “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Sing the song and make the hand movements.
Your one-year-old will watch you and eventually start mimicking the motions.
Create Fantasy Scenarios
Use toys to create little fantasy worlds. For example, set up a small farm with toy animals and start a story.
You can say something like, “Where do you think the horse is going?” and make a questioning gesture with your hands.
Your toddler will eventually start copying these actions and joining in the story.
It’s a wonderful way to engage their imagination and language skills.
You may also like: 7 Simple Activities For 1 Year Olds At Home
Role Play Everyday Activities
Toddlers love to imitate what they see adults doing. Give them a small broom to “help” you clean or a plastic spoon to “cook” with you.
They can pretend to be just like you, and this not only encourages pretend play but also makes them feel involved and important.
Use Simple Props
Everyday items can become magical props. A cardboard box can turn into a car, a spaceship, a washing machine, or a house.
A blanket can become a cape for a superhero or a tent for a camping trip.
Let your child’s imagination guide the way.
Read and Act Out Stories
Reading to your child is always beneficial, but you can take it a step further by acting out the stories.
Use different voices for characters and encourage your toddler to join in.
If you’re reading about animals, make the animal sounds together.
If the story is about going on a journey, pretend to pack a bag and set off on an adventure around the living room.
Tip: Create a sock puppet from a simple sock to read the story with you; they’ll find it hilarious!
Or make one of these:
Related: DIY Felt Monkey Hand Puppet: No Sewing Experience Needed
Engage in Simple Dialogues
Even though your one-year-old might not be talking much yet, engage them in simple dialogues during play.
Ask questions like, “What is the teddy bear doing?” or “Can you give the doll a hug?” Pause to let them respond in their own way, whether it’s through gestures, sounds, or words.
This helps build their language skills and encourages them to think creatively.
Explore Nature
Take your pretend play outside! Nature provides endless opportunities for imaginative play.
Collect leaves and pretend they are plates for a woodland tea party, or gather stones and sticks to build a little fairy house.
The fresh air and natural surroundings can really boost creativity.
Encourage Independence
Ever wonder if you should keep your little one entertained when playing alone and if it’s “unfriendly” when you don’t join in? I feel this way sometimes, but playing alone is so important!
Allow your child some independence in their play. Sometimes, just observing them and giving them the freedom to explore their ideas can lead to the most creative pretend play!
They will surprise you with cute scenarios. And sometimes you’ll wonder, “Where did they even see this?”
How to Involve Your 1 Year Old in Everyday Tasks With Home Gear
You don’t need to spend a lot of money on fancy toys to encourage pretend play. Everyday household items can be transformed into fantastic props for your toddler’s imaginative adventures. Here are five examples:
Kitchen Fun
Your kitchen is full of items that can be used for pretend play:
- Plastic Containers and Utensils: Give your child some plastic bowls, spoons, and spatulas. They can pretend to cook or pretend to mix ingredients.
- Empty Food Boxes: Save empty cereal boxes, egg cartons, and milk jugs. These can become groceries for a pretend store or ingredients for a play kitchen.
- Spices and Herbs: Fill small containers with safe-to-smell spices or dried herbs. They can pretend to season their dishes, adding an element of sensory play.
When your little one can stand independently, you can place them next to you in the kitchen on a special standing tower and let them “help” you in a real kitchen!
Laundry and Cleaning Gear
Toddlers love to mimic household chores, and you can turn this into a fun pretend play activity:
- Mini Broom and Dustpan: Let your child help “clean” the house. They can sweep the floors and feel like they’re contributing.
- Laundry Basket: Give them a small laundry basket and some doll clothes to “wash” and “fold.” They can even pretend to iron with a toy iron. Or let them help you with ”real” laundry. My daughter carefully puts her dad’s clean boxers in the (wrong) pile. Socks are her favorite!
- Spray Bottle and Cloth: Fill a spray bottle with water and let them “clean” surfaces or the floor.
Gardening Adventures
If you have a garden, let your toddler help with planting or watering. They can have their own little tools and feel like a real gardener.
Even if you don’t have a garden, you can simulate the experience indoors:
- Plant Pots and Soil: Use small plant pots and fill them with dry beans or rice. Provide fake flowers or small toys that your toddler can “plant” and “grow.”
- Watering Can: A small watering can or even a plastic cup can be used to “water” their garden.
- Garden Tools: Miniature garden tools or even large spoons can be used for digging and planting pretend seeds.
Best Toys for Pretend Play for a 1-Year-Old
Here are some of the best toys for pretend play for one year olds to get their imagination soaring:
Cleaning
Little ones love to copy what they see at home, so a toy broom, mop, or spray can be a big hit. Let them “clean” alongside you!
Kitchen Set Up
A toy kitchen with pretend food, pots, and pans can provide hours of fun.
Your little chef can cook up imaginary meals and serve them to you.
Does your little one often watch you make coffee? I bet they’ll know how to do it themselves with this coffee set!
Baby Nursery
Set up a small nursery area with a crib, bathtub, some baby clothes, and a doll.
Your toddler can pretend to be a parent.
These products from Manhattan Toy are adorable and ideal for 1 year olds.
Doctor’s Office
With a toy doctor kit, your toddler can pretend to be a doctor and check your heartbeat, give you shots (ouch!), and make you all better.
Gardening
A mini gardening set with a tiny shovel, watering can, and pretend flowers or vegetables is perfect for letting them “help” in the garden.
They’ll love digging in the dirt or watering plants, just like you do!
Snag Our Fun Seasonal Flashcards
Let’s make learning fun! These 92 cute seasonal flashcards are perfect for little ones to explore the magic of each season. Just download, print, and watch them enjoy a new way to learn about the world around them!
Pretend play is a magical and essential part of childhood. It offers endless opportunities for learning, creativity, and fun.
By encouraging your toddler to engage in pretend play, you’re helping them develop important skills that will benefit them throughout their life.
So, grab a baby doll, set up a mini grocery store, or turn a cardboard box into a washing machine, and dive into the wonderful world of pretend play for one year olds!!
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Last update on 2025-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
