The Importance of Pretend Play: Letting Babies Pretend to Drive, Cook, and Talk

What Is Pretend Play, and When Does It Begin?

Pretend play—also known as symbolic play—is one of the most important and fascinating parts of early childhood development. It begins to appear between 12 and 18 months, often in small, subtle ways. A baby might hold a block to their ear like a phone, or pretend to feed a doll. These first signs of imagination mark a huge step forward in how a child sees and understands the world.

At its core, pretend play is when a child uses objects, actions, or ideas to represent something else. This means they’re no longer just reacting to what they see—they’re creating meaning and playing out their own ideas. That’s the foundation of symbolic thinking, which supports everything from language development to problem-solving later in life.

Early pretend play is usually simple. A stuffed animal becomes a baby to feed, or a cardboard box turns into a car. But as a child grows, this play becomes richer and more complex. Around age two, many toddlers begin to build short storylines—like pretending to go shopping, cooking a meal, or driving to the park.

What’s happening in the brain during all of this? A lot. Symbolic play helps children process real-life experiences, practice social roles, and explore emotions in a safe and creative way. According to Healthline, this kind of imaginative play is a sign that children are developing the ability to think beyond the here and now, a skill that will support them throughout childhood and beyond.

Why Pretend Play Matters More Than It Seems

1. Builds Language Skills

Pretend play encourages children to talk, describe, and narrate. Whether they’re pretending to cook or care for a doll, they’re using new words and practicing how conversations work. It’s a natural way to grow vocabulary and improve sentence structure.

2. Strengthens Social Understanding

Taking on roles—like being a parent, a doctor, or a cashier—helps toddlers see the world from different perspectives. This early role play teaches empathy and basic social rules, like taking turns, sharing, and helping others.

3. Supports Emotional Development

When children act out everyday situations, they’re working through feelings. Pretending to comfort a crying doll or be “scared” during a doctor visit helps them understand emotions and learn how to cope with them.

4. Encourages Problem-Solving and Flexibility

Imaginative play is full of little challenges—like figuring out how to “cook dinner” without real food, or how to fit a “family” into one toy car. These playful problems teach children to think creatively and adapt on the spot.

Common Pretend Scenarios and What They Tell Us

Pretend play gives us a glimpse into how children understand the world around them. Even the simplest imaginary games reveal important steps in their growth. Here are three common pretend scenarios and what they mean for your child’s development:

1. Driving: Learning Control and Independence

When a toddler pretends to drive—gripping a toy steering wheel or saying “beep beep”—they’re copying what adults do every day. But it’s more than imitation. This kind of play shows that a child is learning routines, understanding movement and direction, and exploring the idea of being in control. It also reflects their growing desire for independence, even if it’s just in make-believe form.

2. Cooking: Practicing Care and Everyday Life Skills

Pretend kitchens and toy food give children the chance to act out the rhythms of home life. “Making dinner” or feeding a stuffed animal helps them practice nurturing behavior and understand how daily routines work. It’s a gentle way for toddlers to step into the caregiving roles they see around them, while also building confidence in their own abilities.

3. Talking on the Phone: Exploring Social Interaction

Pretending to chat on a phone—even if it’s just a banana held to the ear—helps children practice the basics of conversation. They learn how to start and end “calls,” how to take turns speaking, and how to use tone and gestures. This kind of role-play builds early communication skills and helps children explore what it means to connect with others.

How to Respond as a Parent or Caregiver

Pretend play doesn’t need adult instruction to be valuable—often, the best thing a parent or caregiver can do is simply be present. Your role is not to lead the play, but to support it gently from the sidelines.

1. Observe Without Interrupting

Give your child space to create their own stories. Watching without stepping in shows that you respect their ideas and trust their imagination. This kind of quiet support helps build confidence and independence, letting your child explore on their own terms.

2. Join In—But Only When Invited

If your child asks you to play, follow their lead. Let them decide who you’ll be and what happens next. By entering their world on their terms, you reinforce their creativity and make them feel seen and heard.

3. Follow, Don’t Direct

It can be tempting to suggest ideas or "improve" the game, but try to hold back unless you're invited to contribute. Children learn best when they’re in control of their own play. As noted by the Raising Children Network, following your child’s lead encourages deeper engagement and supports learning through genuine interest.

Setting Up a Pretend-Play-Friendly Environment

Imagination thrives best in spaces where children feel free, safe, and inspired. You don’t need a big setup or dozens of toys—just the right environment, a few meaningful props, and time that’s truly their own.

Make It Accessible and Inviting

Choose a low shelf or basket to hold a few pretend-play staples your child can reach anytime. Things like a toy phone, steering wheel, or cooking utensils may seem simple, but to a toddler, they’re full of possibility. A small space where everything is child-height, visible, and easy to put away gives them a sense of ownership and encourages independent play.

For example, a wooden kids’ play kitchen with real-looking details—like buttons that click, lights that glow, and a rotating faucet—can become the heart of a pretend home. It encourages role play rooted in everyday life, allowing children to “cook,” clean, make calls, and host their own social moments. These familiar roles help children build confidence and learn about responsibility in a safe, joyful way.

Encourage Active, Open-Ended Play

Pretend play doesn’t always happen sitting still. Kids also love to move while they imagine. A ride-on car with realistic features—like a working horn, light-up dashboard, and remote-control option for safety—can transform your driveway into a make-believe road trip. Letting children explore both indoor and outdoor spaces in character—whether as a chef, a parent, or a driver—expands their thinking and deepens their play.

Movement-based role play also supports gross motor skills, decision-making, and early independence. When kids feel physically involved in their stories, they engage more deeply and creatively.

Protect Time for Uninterrupted Play

It’s easy to fill a child’s day with activities, but uninterrupted playtime is essential. Carve out moments where they can follow their own ideas without screens, instructions, or correction. In this kind of quiet, open-ended time, a ride-on truck can become a fire engine, and a toy kitchen can turn into a café. Their world expands because it belongs to them.

By giving your child access to simple but well-designed tools, and the time and space to use them freely, you're saying: "Your imagination matters." That message builds more than play—it builds confidence, creativity, and lifelong curiosity.

Imagination Today, Real Skills Tomorrow

When a child pretends to drive a car, cook a meal, or talk on the phone, it may look like simple fun—but it’s actually powerful learning in motion. Pretend roles help build empathy by encouraging kids to see from another’s perspective. They stretch creativity as children invent stories, and they sharpen problem-solving as they navigate their imagined worlds.

What may seem like play on the outside is, underneath, serious developmental work. Through these moments, children learn how to think, feel, express, and connect. And the best part? They're doing it joyfully—one story, one role, and one imaginary moment at a time.