What you need
- A chair or toy which rocks back and forth
- If you don’t have one, you can create a ‘rocking space’ using a cushion or small chair and show your toddler how to rock back and forth as they sit
What to try
- Make up a story while your toddler is playing on their rocker. Your toddler’s rocker might become a bed, an animal, or a swing – be as creative or silly as you like!
- Make the story relevant for them by including details they recognise: “You are going on a journey to {insert a place where they like to go to, like the park}. You’re ready to go and need to get onto your {anything you would like the rocker to be – perhaps a dinosaur}.”
- Encourage your toddler to get on their rocker and move forwards and backwards. Then say, “You have arrived!” You can make up something they like to do at the chosen destination.
- Act out the chosen activity, and then say, “It’s time to go, {insert favourite toy’s name here} is at home and they need their lunch.” Encourage your toddler to get back on their rocker and journey all the way home.
Good to know
Try to keep the story short to being with, it might be the first time your toddler has used a rocker as part of pretend play. As they become more familiar with the routine of getting on and off the rocker during this type of play, you can make your adventures even more imaginative.