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Pretend phone call: a play idea for 12 to 18 months

Pretending one thing is another is a big step in thinking, and phone calls are all talk. It takes about 3 minutes and uses a wooden block or a hairbrush.

Checked October 29, 2026.

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How to play

Pretend phone call12 to 18 months · about 3 minutes

You need: a wooden block or a hairbrush.

  1. Hold the block to your ear: "Ring, ring! Hello?"
  2. Have a short pretend chat: "It's Grandma! She says hi!"
  3. Hand the "phone" to your toddler.
  4. Wait and listen to whatever they say.

Builds: language and talking and thinking and problem solving. Pretending one thing is another is a big step in thinking, and phone calls are all talk.

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