🧸 Let’s Pretend! Why Play & Imitation Are Power Skills in Early ABA

Ever watched a child turn a spoon into a spaceship or pretend a laundry basket is a race car? That’s not just cute—it’s powerful brain work in action. Pretend play and imitation aren’t just fun—they’re essential building blocks for communication, problem-solving, and social connection.

At Compassionate Care ABA, we believe some of the most meaningful therapy happens on the playroom floor, surrounded by dinosaurs, dolls, bubbles, and imagination. Because when we play, we learn—and when we learn through play, it sticks. 🎉

🎭 What Is Pretend Play?

Pretend play (also known as symbolic or imaginative play) is when children use objects, actions, or ideas to represent other things. It’s when a banana becomes a phone, a couch becomes a pirate ship, or a stuffed animal becomes a tea party guest.

But this kind of play does more than entertain—it helps children:

• Develop abstract thinking

• Understand social roles and relationships

• Practice language and narration

• Build empathy and emotional understanding

In fact, pretend play is so developmentally important that delays in symbolic play are often early indicators of autism (Jarrold et al., 1996). That’s why it’s a key focus area in early ABA therapy.

👯‍♂️ Imitation: The Unsung Hero of Early Learning

Long before kids say their first words or follow a classroom routine, they learn by watching and copying. Imitation is the first step toward everything from brushing teeth to waving hello to saying “I love you.”

Imitation skills help children:

• Learn new actions and words

• Understand the connection between people and behaviors

• Practice turn-taking and joint attention

• Build the foundation for back-and-forth interaction

According to research, children with autism often show delays in both motor and verbal imitation, which can contribute to challenges in language and social development (Rogers & Pennington, 1991). That’s why we start here—because imitation opens the door to everything else.

🎉 ABA + Play = Purposeful Fun

At Compassionate Care ABA, we use play-based learning to build core imitation and pretend play skills—and we make it fun!

Here’s what that might look like:

• A therapist pretending to feed a doll, and prompting the child to do the same

• Singing action songs like “Wheels on the Bus” or “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”

• Teaching a child to copy stacking blocks, clapping, or pretending to stir a pot

• Expanding play themes: turning a pretend kitchen into a restaurant, or animals into a zoo

• Encouraging parallel play that gradually becomes cooperative play with peers

We meet the child where they are—whether they’re lining up cars or chewing on toys—and gently model, prompt, and reinforce new ways to play, connect, and explore.

🧠 Why It’s So Important to Start Early

Play and imitation don’t just “click” over time—they’re skills that often need to be taught, especially for children with autism. Research shows that early intervention focused on imitation and symbolic play is linked to improvements in cognitive skills, social behavior, and language (Ingersoll & Schreibman, 2006).

And the earlier we start, the easier it is to build those skills naturally—before rigid patterns or frustration take hold. Pretend play becomes the sandbox for everything else: communication, emotional regulation, social skills, and confidence.

Plus, learning through play keeps motivation high and stress low—and that’s a win for everyone.

📦 Real Life, Real Results

When children begin to imitate and pretend, something beautiful happens:

• They start joining in with siblings or peers

• They respond more to adults and initiate interactions

• They begin to use toys with purpose and creativity

• They build the skills they need for preschool, group learning, and playdates

Parents often tell us they cried happy tears the first time their child pretended to feed a baby doll, said “vroom!” with a toy car, or copied a silly dance move. These moments might seem small—but they’re huge developmental wins.

💛 Your Home Is a Play Lab

One of the best parts? You don’t need a therapy room to support these skills—you can do it right at home.

Here are a few ideas to try:

• Narrate your own pretend play ("My bear is sleepy. Time for bed!")

• Use everyday items in silly ways (a spoon as a microphone, a sock as a puppet)

• Encourage imitation during songs, movement games, or snack time

• Join your child in their play and expand it slowly—no pressure, just fun!

We’ll help you every step of the way. In sessions and parent coaching, we model how to create playful learning opportunities that feel natural, engaging, and joyful.

✨ Let’s Pretend—Together

At Compassionate Care ABA, pretend play and imitation are more than goals on a treatment plan—they’re the bridge to connection, communication, and growth.

If your child isn’t yet imitating or pretending, don’t worry. These skills can be taught—with love, creativity, and consistency. And the earlier we start, the more progress we can build.

📍 Serving Bucks County & surrounding areas

📅 Now enrolling for center-based and in-home services

🌐 Learn more at www.ccaba.online

📚 Citations:

• Jarrold, C., Boucher, J., & Smith, P. K. (1996). Generativity deficits in pretend play in autism. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 14(3), 275–300.

• Rogers, S. J., & Pennington, B. F. (1991). A theoretical approach to the deficits in infantile autism. Development and Psychopathology, 3(2), 137–162.

• Ingersoll, B., & Schreibman, L. (2006). Teaching reciprocal imitation skills to young children with autism using a naturalistic behavioral approach: Effects on language, pretend play, and joint attention. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(4), 487–505.

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