IMAGINATION (30 MONTHS, 3 WKS)

S's imagination is expanding. Yesterday, she was pretending to catch fishes with her (defunct) fishing pole. She would catch them and I would ask her what color it was or if it was small or big. Ususally, she wanted to pet it afterwards and once she wanted to kiss the fish.

Her imagination has helped us out in tight situations, too. When she wanted a treat after dinner, I said "no" but added that maybe, we can imagine eating a treat and that please her. She sat there in her high chair eating imaginary candy. Today, at the doctor's office, to pass the time, she pretended she was a doggie, panting with her tongue out.

Probably her favorite thing to do is play with momma's "man hand," an imaginary friend using momma's two fingers. Often this occupies her when there's nothing else to do, like in the shopping cart.