Recently in our Toddler room the toddlers have been very interested in pretend play, especially involving veterinary kits. Our group of curious little learners gathered around the pretend play corner, which had been transformed into a veterinarian’s clinic. With a collection of plush animals, toy medical kits, and a waiting area, the toddlers eagerly stepped into the roles of caring vets. Penny picked up a stethoscope and gently listened to the heart of a stuffed puppy. “He sick,” she said with a serious look. Ava nodded and handed her a toy syringe. “Needle” she suggested. Together, they took turns wrapping bandages, checking temperatures, and comforting their stuffed patients. Theo came over holding a stuffed cat and said, “Meow” He waited patiently as Sarah examined the cat and said, “She looks like she needs a cuddle.” Theo then hugged the toy and gave it a cozy blanket. This really showed his empathetic personality. Penny then held the stethoscope up to the pig and made heart thumping noises and checked Sarah’s ears with the otoscope. Lloyd checked his animals heart beats with the stethoscope and ears and eyes with the otoscope and used the bandages to bandage the animal’s legs. “Ouch” Lloyd whispered as he bandaged the dog’s tail. Addy bandaged her animals and found their heartbeat with the stethoscope. Dean used the dental mirror to check the animal’s teeth. George used the stethoscope to check Nihal’s heart beat. George nodded his head like he was saying Nihal was okay, Ava used the scissors and pretended to cut the dog’s fur. Nihal started singing old McDonald and made the noises the animals make. He snorted like a pig and barked like the dog. TongTong gave the lamb a needle. Evie enjoyed using the medical chart, tweezers and opening and closing the first aid kit. She also bandaged the elephant. Levi loved the medical chart and made the noises for the beating heart and copied the moan for the child with a “sick stomach” Through this play, the children showed empathy, cooperation, and problem-solving. They communicated their ideas, took on different roles, and explored the idea of caring for others—all while using rich language and imagination. they also learned social skills like Turn-taking, sharing tools, and role-playing helped develop teamwork. During their times taking care of their animals they showed lots of Emotional Development. They showed this by expressing care and concern for the animals in which shows developing empathy. I think it would be neat to in the future to Introduce real-life vet tools through books or videos.
