Pretend Play Toys
There is little dispute that pretend play is important to a child's development. So what sort of pretend
play toys should a parent provide a child with? Most children will use their imagination and have fun with
whatever they are given but here's a look at some fun pretend play toys for kids:
Toy Doctor Kit - What kid doesn't love playing doctor? I still remember the Fisher Price Doctor Kit I
had as a kid. The doctor kit show here is by Learning Resources and comes with 19 pieces including a
stethoscope, bandages, forceps, pager, cell phone, and thermometer.
Shopping Cart - A toy shopping cart can be fun for at home or going shopping. At home, kids can set
up their own "grocery store" and then go shopping for the items they want. My boys also enjoyed using
our toy shopping cart just to push their favorite toys around the house. The Melissa and Doug Shopping
Cart shown here is a realistic metal one with a fold down seat.
Toy Lawn Mower - My oldest son used to love pulling out his toy lawn mower and helping dad mow the lawn.
This Fisher Price Bubble Mower is a popular option. "Mow" the lawn and blow bubbles at the same time.
Toy Vacuum - My oldest son was obsessed with the vacuum cleaner when he was one so we went through a few
toy vacuums :-) They make them surprisingly realistic these days with sounds and lights. Some
vacuums actually pick up dirt and debris and have bags to empty.
Play Kitchen - Play kitchens aren't just for girls. Boys and girls alike can enjoy preparing and
cooking "meals", washing dishes, and imitating the other kitchen duties they see the adults in their lives
do. The play kitchen is one of the ultimate pretend play toys! The toy kitchen pictured here is
the Kidkraft Vintage Play Kitchen in blue. There are dozens of play kitchens on the market these days
though in a variety of prices, sizes, and styles.
School Playset - Remember playing school as a kid? I do! This kit has all the supplies they need
to play teacher to whatever whiling pupils they can find (stuffed friends? siblings? mom and
dad?). The classroom sets up easy with a tri-fold board. The set also includes plenty of
accessories like a grade book, bell, calendar, maps, clock, stickers, and more.
Camp Playset - When they can't enjoy the great outdoors for real, they can pretend to by setting up camp
in the middle of the living room. All they need is this camping playset, a pop-up tent, and maybe a
nature DVD :-)
Play Grocery Store - An alternative to the play kitchen is the play grocery store. The one pictured here
from Melissa and Doug can also be reversed to work as a lemonade stand. Plenty of bins to set up their
play food. Instant grocery store!
Toy Cash Register - Few kids aren't fascinated with the cash registers they see in stores. A toy cash
register not only provides play opportunities but also educational ones as well. The cash register
pictured here is by Learning Resources and has a scanner, coin slot, and scale. It also comes with
bills, coins, and credit cards. Lights, sounds, and messages add to it's fun. Four interactive
games add to the educational value of this toy.
Animal Hospital Playset - A fun alternative to the traditional doctor kit, an animal hospital playset is perfect for
animal lovers and tiny veterinarians-to-be. The 34 piece set includes medical tools, a tri-fold board
animals hospital, a patient, and more.
Need more ideas?
Check out the Pretend Play section on Amazon
Pretend Play Resources:
The Importance of Pretend
Play - Article from Scholastic about the role that pretend plays in a child's development. Discusses the
skills that are developed through pretend play including social, emotional, language, and thinking. Also
gives suggestions for creating a prop box to encourage more imaginative play.
How to Encourage Preschool
Pretend Play - Another article about the importance of pretend play to little ones. This one is
from Education.com and gives suggestions and advice for encouraging it.
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