Pretend sequences: how the skill grows from 18 to 36 months
Pretend sequences means linking pretend actions into a little story: feeding a doll, giving it a bath, then tucking it into bed. Sequences in play rehearse daily routines and are an early form of storytelling.
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Pretend sequences: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Two linked actions. Feeds teddy and then lays him down to sleep.
Activities that fit this step
- Teddy Wash, Dry and Tuck-In · 18–28 months · 5–10 min
- Teddy Tries the Potty · 18–36 months · 3–8 min
- Dough Pancake Café · 21–32 months · 8–15 min
Next step: A whole routine. Plays a full bedtime: bath, towel, pajamas, story, lights off.
Activities that fit this step
- Teddy Tries the Potty · 18–36 months · 3–8 min
- Dough Pancake Café · 21–32 months · 8–15 min
- Teddy's Doctor Check-Up · 24–34 months · 8–15 min
Next step: New storylines. Takes teddy to the doctor, on a bus or to the shop.
Activities that fit this step
- Teddy's Doctor Check-Up · 24–34 months · 8–15 min
- Teddy's Two-Step Picnic · 25–34 months · 5–15 min
- Dough Birthday Cake Party · 25–36 months · 10–15 min
Next step: Gives roles. Hands you a role: "You be the doctor, I'm the mommy."
Activities that fit this step
- Teddy's Two-Step Picnic · 25–34 months · 5–15 min
- Dough Birthday Cake Party · 25–36 months · 10–15 min
- Chalk Road Car Trip · 27–36 months · 10–20 min
Top of the ladder (gives roles). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Dough Birthday Cake Party · 25–36 months · 10–15 min
- Chalk Road Car Trip · 27–36 months · 10–20 min
- Toy Car Trip Story · 30–36 months · 10–20 min
The pretend sequences ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 18 to 36 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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One pretend action
Gives teddy one spoonful, then moves on to something else.
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Two linked actions
Feeds teddy and then lays him down to sleep.
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A whole routine
Plays a full bedtime: bath, towel, pajamas, story, lights off.
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New storylines
Takes teddy to the doctor, on a bus or to the shop.
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Gives roles
Hands you a role: "You be the doctor, I'm the mommy."
When pretend sequences usually shows up
Using objects to pretend, like offering a block to a doll as food, is a CDC 30-month milestone. Linking two or more pretend actions into a short storyline usually builds through the third year.
This page follows pretend sequences from 18 to 36 months, a window that spans the 18-month, 24-month, 30-month and 36-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 8 activities practise pretend sequences (5 as their main skill), for ages 18 to 36 months. One of them needs no prep and takes 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 2, 3 and 4 of the 5-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 30 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve pretend sequences. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 30 months | Lets one thing stand in for another in pretend play, like offering a block to a doll as if it were food. |
Activities that practise pretend sequences
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 5 creativity & pretend, 2 language and 1 practical life. Quickest to start: Teddy Tries the Potty (3–8 minutes).
Step 2: Two linked actions
Step 3: A whole routine
Skills practised alongside
The activities for pretend sequences most often also work on conversation turns (2), following two-step directions (2), squeezing and rolling (2), asking questions (1) and body parts (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Act out your real routines with toys: dinner, bath, bedtime, a trip in the car.
- Ask "Then what happens?" when the story pauses.
- Add a small problem to solve: "Oh no, teddy is cold!"
What to avoid
- Correcting the order of events; pretend stories are allowed to be silly.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If by 3 your child does not join or start any pretend games, or plays with toys only by lining them up or spinning them, mention it to the pediatrician.
Worried about pretend sequences between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start pretend sequences?
Using objects to pretend, like offering a block to a doll as food, is a CDC 30-month milestone. Linking two or more pretend actions into a short storyline usually builds through the third year. The first step to look for: gives teddy one spoonful, then moves on to something else.
How can I help my toddler with pretend sequences?
Act out your real routines with toys: dinner, bath, bedtime, a trip in the car. Ask "Then what happens?" when the story pauses. A good first activity is Teddy Wash, Dry and Tuck-In (18–28 months).
What should I avoid when practising pretend sequences?
Correcting the order of events; pretend stories are allowed to be silly.
When should I mention pretend sequences to the pediatrician?
If by 3 your child does not join or start any pretend games, or plays with toys only by lining them up or spinning them, mention it to the pediatrician. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.