Taking Care of Doggy

Pretend play to teach nurturing behavior

Description:
Let your little one enjoy caring for a dog - without the mess and responsibility of the real thing. Pretend play lets children practice for life. Use this pretend game to practice all the love and care a real pet needs.

Step-by-Step:

Feed the puppies. Put some crackers or vanilla wafers in bowls and "feed" the crackers to your stuffed doggy.
Groom the dog. Give your dog a "bath" (no water), dry your dog and then brush him.
Train your dog. Call out commands such as sit, stay and down. Don't forget to reward your puppy.
Let your puppy play and talk to the other puppies.
Put your dog to bed.
Watch your children's imagination jump into high gear as they take care of their dogs. Pretty soon, these puppies will flying, shopping, chasing bubbles and singing.

Materials:
Stuffed animal dogs
Plastic bowls
Towel, brush
Crackers
A ball