The Bunny Rabbit and Baby Tiger: Entering the world of pretend play

Anna and the Pretend Bunny Rabbit

Anna often asks me to tell her stories in while we are driving in the car. So while driving to Nana’s house she asked for a story.  I always just make them up on the spot and they are usually about a small animal or something the girls can understand or relate to. Anyway, I proceeded to tell the girls a story about a bunny rabbit that would jump, jump, jump around and then sneak up and jump on my head and scare me. I was able to make the bunny with the two fingers of my one hand and act out the story, while driving. The girls were laughing in the back every time that silly bunny rabbit jumped on my head and scared me. Well, I wanted to end the story and I came up what I thought would be a great end. I snatched the pretend bunny rabbit up after he jumped on my head, rolled down the car window and threw him out of the car. There was a moment of silence and then I heard from the back of the car a two year old sobbing; crying for a pretend bunny rabbit that was thrown out the window. I knew what I had to do. I rolled that car window back down fumbled my hand around in the blowing air until I was able to find the bunny rabbit and scoop him back up into the safety of the car, pat his little pretend head and reassure a two year old that he was happy and safe.

Anna’s Pretend Baby Tiger

Anna was playing with her pretend baby tiger when we told her we were going to the store. After I got her ready and we were about to head out the door she started screaming and crying. I had to say, as I often have to, “Anna I do not know what you want when you cry you need to use your words and tell me what you want, I do not understand cry or whine.” She tearfully said, “baby tiger” as she pointed to the ground where she had been playing before I helped her get her sandals on. I didn’t get it at first and then I realized what she wanted. “OK, Anna” I said, “You can bring your baby tiger to the store with us.” She ran happily over and scooped her pretend baby tiger right up. She held her hands lovingly in a cupped position all the way to the store as she sat in her car seat, and through the store showing it different things.  So funny.