It seems like a lot of these pretend play sets are more things a girl would pretend than a boy. I don't like to categorize but I think it is important when thinking about what we teach our clients, especially when most of them are boys. In preschool it seems that the children all tend to play with similar items but then it starts to change after about the age of 4. I unfortunately have not been around enough "typcially developing" children to give a top ten list for boys. However, I tend to see them playing more with action figures, firefighter outfits, police outfits, super hero dress up costumes, cars and car accessories. It isn't alway as easy to teach structured play using these items but watching how the other children in the child's environment play and then breaking it down and teaching the child those play schemes, seems to be the best way to go. I think the items mentioned in this article are excellent for 4 years and younger and especially for generalizing. Do you have any input on pretend play for boys especially in the 5 to 8 range?

Thank you as always for your excellent blogs ~ Megan

Megan DeLeon, M.S., BCBA
Navigation Behavioral Consulting
"Navigating the world of behavior, changing the course of people's lives"
http://www.navigationbehavioralconsulting.com
http://blog.navigationbehavioralconsulting.com

Posted by: Megan DeLeon     2010-08-07 10:56

love the play tent.
for imaginative play:
simple wood objects and
silk cloths and
simple costume items

see Bella Luna Toys or Nova Natural for other ideas

Posted by: Karen     2010-09-21 08:49