Role Play

It sure is fun to watch Ava role play with her stuffed animals and toys. It can be funny and humbling to see her act out the many experiences of her life. I like to see what makes an impression on her as she often acts out with her toys what she has learned from Cody or me. I hear her say things like "Oh no! Teddy Bear got hurt. It's okay Teddy Bear." And she grasps him tightly and rocks or pats him consolingly. She makes a larger stuffed cat hug a smaller cat and says "The mama is helping the baby go to sleep." She says "The monkey is going to look for a banana, he'll be right back." I say "I'll be right back" countless times a day I'm sure. Ava also likes to tell our cat "no." Whatever Jingle happens to be doing, for instance just walking under the piano minding its own business, Ava will say "No Jingle! Don't walk under the piano!" Ava also has this habit of repeating only the last few words of a long sentence, and sometimes it just sounds so bad! Like last night I told her "You better eat your dinner because this is your only chance to eat and if you don't eat now you'll be hungry later, and Mama and Daddy won't give you any food." She starts repeating "Mama and Daddy won't give me any food." over and over in a sad voice with a frown. Any stranger on the street would be calling child protective services in a second if they heard her.