Comfort:

• Through pretend play, toddlers and preschoolers can practice social skills like caring for someone else’s needs, sharing, saying "please" and "thank you." Comment on the way children play with their toys and let them know when they are being gentle and polite.

Play:

• Providing props will encourage children to explore familiar objects and to learn how to use them with others. Children can distribute dishes, pour tea and eat pretend cookies with their dolls. Pretend play allows young children to recreate experiences that they have enjoyed with parents and grown ups!

Teach:

• Playing with teddy bears and dolls encourages toddlers and preschoolers to use their developing language skills. The pretend play situation will prompt him to talk to toys while serving them tea. Join in the play and ask open-ended questions so that children will talk to you as well!