Little First-Aid Helper

1. 1

   Gather adhesive bandages, gauze, and similar supplies. You and a stuffed bear will be the pretend patients, and your child will be the bandage helper.

2. 2

   Begin with a demonstration. Hold your arm and say, “Mom fell and hurt this spot. It needs a bandage.”

3. 3

   Bring out the supplies and let your child help wrap the gauze or apply an adhesive bandage so the caregiving role becomes clear.

4. 4

   Then walk the bear over with a limp and say, “Bear got hurt too. Can you help?”

5. 5

   Your child may repeat the actions, choose a different supply, and carefully tend to the bear’s pretend injury.

6. 6

   When both patients are cared for, thank the helper: “Thank you! You helped us feel much better.”

What to notice

• Uses gauze or an adhesive bandage on the bear’s pretend injury Imitation and Symbolic Representation and Play
• Shows concern when you pretend to be hurt Emotional Functioning

Tips

• The actions begin as imitation, but using them to care for a pretend patient is an important step in developing symbolic play related to #C-ISRP.

Developmental benefits

• Cognitive: Pretending to bandage an injured doll lets your child extend familiar caregiving actions into symbolic play and explore what a caring role involves.