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Airport
Set up with tickets, passports, seat signs, and airport signs. (Found on playdoughtoplato.com) -
Baby bath
A pretend play “baby bath station” will keep your little ones entertained and cool for hours over the summer months. (Found on happyhooligans.ca) -
Birthday party
Birthday parties are such a special event in a child’s life - but who says birthdays have to be just once a year when you can have fun with some birthday party pretend play? (Found on kidsactivitiesblog.com) -
Cardboard city
A city or castle scene can grow and grow, with lots of creative play ideas along the way. (Found on paintontheceiling.blogspot) -
Coffee shop
Set up a cafe or coffee shop scene for fun role-play - the waitress can 'make' food, write the order on a note pad, take your money and more. (Found on /theimaginationtree.com) -
Doctors surgery
A mini doctors surgery can start imaginative play and storytelling while helping ease fears ahead of doctor visits. (Found on sunhatsandwellieboots.com) -
Food truck
A large box can work well as a food truck - let your little one create and serve some tasty dishes! (Found on tinkerlab.com) -
Salon/beauty spa
Create a beauty spa, using items from around the house for a little bit of pretend pampering, story telling and more. (Found on happyhooligans.ca) -
Ice cream shop
Use material, pom poms and cotton wool to 'make' different ice creams for your customers. (Found on pre-kpages.com) -
Movie night
Create a ticket booth and snack bar for playtime before watching a movie as a family. (Found on katherinemaries.com) -
Optician’s office
This family made their own optician’s office, with glasses display case, eye charts and pipe-cleaner glasses - a great idea before getting your child's eyes checked. (found on castleviewacademy.com) -
Pancake making
Create some make-believe pancakes - this uses imaginative cooking play, and can also include some literacy skills. (Found on theimaginationtree.com) -
Grooming salon
With a waiting room, dog treats menu, cash register, and a bathing and grooming station, your child's toy animals will never be cleaner. (Found on sortingsprinkles.blogspot.com) -
Pizza making
Cardboard 'pizza slices' can be covered by different colours and materials represeting lots of toppings. They can be then sold to 'customers' in a restaurant. (Found on filthwizardry.com) -
Post office
A post office play center is always a hit! Kids love writing, pasting on stamps and posting their letters to family and friends in a pretend post office. (Found on buggyandbuddy.com) -
Play school
Kids love pretending to be adults and getting to turn the tables and be in charge of littler kids. (Found on learnwithplayathome.com) -
Fruit and vegetable shop
This simple game can help your children with naming items, money play, and turn taking. (Found on childhood101.com) -
Vet clinic
Grab the animal toys and a simple medical kit and your kids can use their imaginations to be vets. (Found on teachingmama.org) -
Camping
No need to actually brave the great outdoors for the night: kids can catch and cook their (fake) foods and play in around the tent while camping together. (Found on structuredplay.blogspot.com) -
Office work
Talking on phones, typing, posting letters, helping customers - there's a lot to be done in an office! (Found on michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com) -
Outer space play
Use materials around the home and a dash of imagination to turn the play room into a space centre - or another planet! (Found on pre-kpages.com) -
Spaghetti shop
Another pretend cooking idea - get the kids cooking up a spaghetti storm! (Found on whereimaginationgrows.com)
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With simple props and a bit of imagination, pretend play is a great way to role play and work through any anxiety about a particular event or activity - and also help set expectations and behaviour.
You can also see some great pretend play ideas with these wooden toys.
Set up a play kitchen and play food sets, or bring the outdoors in with a play camper tent.
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