Toddler making doll do everything she does

[redwellybluewelly]

ok - I'm interested in why they do this/when children start this. Would really appreciate replies.

DD has a brain injury, as such she is closely monitored and we are interested utterly neurotic about her development. Mainly because with childhood brain injury there is an outside chance to heal the damage if we get early intervention/therapy.

I noticed today that dolly, who is a long time companion of DD (29 months) was being treated like a 'real' playmate. DD was sitting with dolly on her lap showing her the pictures in her book, making dolly turn the pages, giving her a car to play with and using dolly's hands to push it along, pushing the ball between her and dolly. She has had dolly a year, always been fond of her but not a constant companion. Tonight dolly was given dinner, given a bath in the sink, put in her PJs and then patted to sleep in her doll cot.

DD also has limited use of one hand/arm and so fine motor things like holding dolly's hand and getting dolly to turn the page took a massive amount of concentration. I was impressed and intrigued hence my post.

[waitingforgodot]

That sounds like a big developmental leap! I am sure someone else will be along soon to answer you properly!

[DewDr0p]

Sounds utterly adorable OP! Sorry that's not terribly helpful is it? but it sounds lovely.

[redwellybluewelly]

Well I am quite biased... but it was pretty sweet.

I'd just not seen it before. I took a whole two weeks off and much of it has been just the two if us, working mother guilt kicking in that she is having loads of development leaps due to being home with me even though she adores nursery.

[waitingforgodot]

How lovely!

[gallicgirl]

My DD is just coming up to 2 and she does similar things. Not to the same degree but dolly has her nappy changed regularly and is put to bed and covered up.

I guess it's just part of their realisation of themselves as individuals and recognising patterns of things that happen to them. I think it's useful way to learn life skills like nurturing, dressing, washing etc.

Sounds like your little girl is making great progress.

[Wussytwit]

That is the most adorable thing I've ever read.
Bless her

[threesocksmorgan]

my dd has cp and is a lot older. but does a similar thing(although doll goes to pretend school now so that she doesn't go every where)
I think it is your dd expressing her "emotions" through her pretend friend.
my dd loves the whole looking after someone else part of it.
I would use it to help her to learn use things, using her doll/freind as an example

[redwellybluewelly]

threesocksmorgan interesting I wondered if it was an expressive language standin. Dd has excellent comprehension but little or no speech.

[VisualiseAHorse]

That sounds lovely - and sounds like she is a very sweet little girl :) I'd be very proud!!

[Latootle]

gosh I truly wouldn't worry. Most children have an invisible friend. I had Jennifer who my mother nearly sat on on the bus. She didn't because I yelled very loudly... apparently!!!! Children are really only doing to their toys what we do with them. Hence the playing with dolls when a child sadly had to visit a counsellor.

[DewDr0p]

welly I noticed the same thing with my 3 when they were little when we went on holiday and I was a sahm, so don't beat yourself up about it. Enjoy the moment instead.

[redwellybluewelly]

Latootle I'm not worrying - I'm intrigued. I didn't know children did that until much older, it was the way she was showing dolly everything which I found most interesting.

My wobble about it being due to some quality 1-2-1 time (16 days to be precise) was purely because I had to come back to work today! I might add she legged it into nursery today without so much as a see you later mummy

[wifeymerrick]

I think it lovely and shows ur DD is developing her self awareness and a good age ! You could use it to your,advantage and get dolly to do the things with u that DD struggles with ? I really hope that any lasting effect from brain injury is minimal for u and ur Dd.....sounds to me like a bright wee cookie though ! My DS got discharged from consultant just before Christmas....they were worried about don't aspects of his development due to birthing issues so I too was slightly anxious ! Still am, but think that's just being a mum :-)

[KD0706]

My dd is three in April. She does similar with her toys and teddies (doesn't have a particular favourite).

I think she sounds about right re the timing of this milestone (no expert though!)

[bonzo77]

How cute. And normal. Different children do things at different ages. I think this sort of role play helps them make sense of their own experiences, and is also mimicry of adults. DS1 is a similar age and will play like this sometimes, his current favourite it looking after his "baby" (burping it etc) as we have a real new baby. He also likes to tell the doll off for not eating (like I do him) and taking him swimming.

[clarkykitten]

How gorgeous :) My DD does the same (32 months) and this symbolic play is age appropriate (what I would look for if I was assessing a child your daughter's age - I'm a SALT)

Your DD sounds very cute!

[KenDoddsDadsDog]

That's so lovely - DD has just started doing this and she has turned three.

[RobinSparkles]

Not terribly helpful here but I LOVE seeing children do things like this! She sounds adorable, OP.

I like it when they imitate adult roles eg. When they "cook" things in the play kitchen and give you your "dinner" and I like seeing children walking in the street with their dolls in the pram.