We bought our little one the cutest set of toy pots and pans for her little kitchen this Christmas. We also found an adorable set with a chef’s hat, apron, and matching potholders (in her favorite color purple, I might add). She looks so cute as she goes about preparing the best pretend meals in town.
Sometimes, I’m served an elaborate meal and other times I cook and play too. I like playing house with her because we have fun spending the time together, but my favorite part is when she tells me her dreams for the future.
She’ll talk about the kind of family she hopes to have, what she wants her home to be like, different types of careers she thinks she might like to engage in… she has a lot of big plans.
It’s a wondrous thing to be a child and to still be certain that there is no limit to what you can accomplish.
It took me a while to realize just how important play can be and how playing house can tell you a lot about your children, even when they’re not telling you things aloud. Sometimes, I just like to observe my little one as she loads her toy washer and dryer, trying to make sure the load is balanced, or as she folds clothes trying to do it the same way I do. Other things, she has distinct ideas about and tells me, “I like my way better.”
That’s a good thing. While I want her to learn from me, I’m glad she thinks for herself and has confidence in her own ideas. Playing house is so much more than playing with toys. It is also a great way to really get to know your child.
Hopes and dreams begin at home. If we nurture them, they might just come true.