Feed the toy
1–2 yearsSuccess MindsetMaterials: Stuffed animal or doll
Toy spoon or cup (or use a real spoon)
Give your child a stuffed animal or doll and a toy spoon or cup. Encourage them to pretend to feed the toy. This simple pretend play develops symbolic thinking as children use one object to represent another. It also builds imagination.
Part of the Imprint developmental journey — personalized to your child.
How to Do This Activity
Give your child a stuffed animal or doll and a toy spoon or cup. Encourage them to pretend to feed the toy. This simple pretend play develops symbolic thinking as children use one object to represent another. It also builds imagination.
Why It Works
Pretend play supports the development of symbolic thinking, a key cognitive milestone at this age. Children learn to represent one thing with another, which is foundational for later abstract thinking. High cognitive ability in childhood predicts better educational and career outcomes (Bergman et al., 2014), and early symbolic play contributes to building these thinking skills.
Tips for Parents
Model the pretend feeding first so your child can copy you.
Use simple phrases like "The bear is hungry" to support the play.
Any soft toy works well for this. No special toys needed.
Materials Needed
Stuffed animal or doll
Toy spoon or cup (or use a real spoon)
Learning Methods
Hands-On ExplorationLanguage-Rich EnvironmentImitation and Modeling
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