Change can be tricky for little ones. Whether it’s starting daycare, adjusting to a new sleep routine, welcoming a new sibling, or moving to a big bed—these shifts can feel big and sometimes overwhelming for children. One simple yet incredibly powerful tool to help support them through these transitions is role play.
What is Role Play?
Role play involves acting out real-life situations using toys, dolls, or even household objects to help children understand and process what’s happening in their world. From around 9 months of age, children start to engage in simple pretend play, and this only becomes more valuable as they grow. By using role play, we can help children prepare for change in a safe and comforting way—one that feels playful, not pressured.
How to Use Role Play at Home
Choose a toy your child loves—something they feel connected to. This toy will represent them in the role play. Then, simply act out the upcoming change.
Here are a couple of examples:
Starting Daycare
If your child is about to begin daycare:
Use their toy as the “child.”
Pretend to walk the toy to daycare, give it a cuddle and kiss, say goodbye, and hand it over to the “educator.”
Later, act out pick-up time—ask the toy about their day, what they played with, and how they felt.
Reinforce the message: “Mummy/Daddy always comes back.”
Bedtime Routine
If your child is starting a new bedtime routine:
Help your child guide the toy through each step—putting on PJs, brushing teeth, reading a story, and lying down to sleep.
Show excitement about the toy going to bed, and keep things positive and calm.
When it’s your child’s turn for bed, you can even tuck the toy in beside them for extra comfort.
Why It Works
Children learn through repetition and play. Role play gives them a chance to experience the steps of something new before it actually happens. It builds familiarity, reduces anxiety, and gives them a sense of control and predictability.
Best of all, it only takes a few minutes and can easily become a part of your daily routine.
If your little one is facing a transition soon and you’d like support working through it—especially around sleep—I’m here to help.
Need help navigating sleep changes or transitions? Let’s chat.
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