Comments on: Using Pretend Play to Conquer Fear

By: maryanne

maryanne — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 01:00:25 +0000

In reply to Shannon Niebuhr. I'm always amazed at how intuitively children use role play to explore a difficult situation like this!

By: Shannon Niebuhr

Shannon Niebuhr — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:49:41 +0000

Tommy is excited about starting play school, but he’s nervous, too. Especially because he can be very passive in the ordinary tussles over toys that happen in school situations (he has visited school a few times). He asks me to play a game he made up called, “Mine Mine,” and he asks, “Mommy, can you be the Bad Kid at School?” (he invented this role)

In this game I approach him when he’s playing with a toy and I say, “Is that your ball? I want it! Mine, mine!” and I try to grab it from him. Sometimes he holds tight, sometimes he runs away, sometimes he says, “No!”

He’s practicing developing his assertiveness, and I love how he uses pretend play to get there.

By: sherri

sherri — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 04:21:48 +0000

Your seriously such a fantastic mom!!!

By: maryanne

maryanne — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 00:20:56 +0000

In reply to Jean Oram. Exactly!

By: Jean Oram

Jean Oram — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:10:30 +0000

Very cool. As parents, sometimes I think we can forget how important pretend play is for kids. But it is such a vital way for them to work through issues they have.