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My Daughter Engages In Excessive Role-Playing

by Cassandra Christ
(Grossenbuch, Germany)

My 3-year old likes to pretend she's someone else (mostly a princess or Peter Pan). She likes to give everyone around her a role to play also. This is fun every once in a while - even once a day - but lately she's been doing it all the time. Today she and I were Peter Pan and Wendy (respectively) for 8 hours. I think this might be too much, but I'm not sure. And if it is, I'm really not sure what to do about it.

I should add that I'm a single mother living and raising her abroad, that she is an only child and that there have been no recent upheavals or changes in our lives or schedules.

Any advice?

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My Daughter Engages In Excessive Role-Playing

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starstarstarstarstar 		It's Normal!
by: Ingrid

Dear Cassandra,

Role playing is normal and healthy. It's one of the ways kids learn to identify with other people's thoughts and feelings. It's a good thing. The only suggestion I would have is the amount of time that she wants to engage in these roles. It is fine to set boundaries. If role playing goes on for hours then say to her "It's time for "your daughter's name" to come home now because her Mom needs her to help with a very important task." You could have her help with the cooking or find a special task for her to do. This may help break up an 8 hour long role playing situation.

Another option is to try asking her how she feels. Ask her why she wants to be Peter Pan or a Princess. Even at that young of an age we can teach our children how to process what they are feeling just by asking them. There may be a feeling she is feeling or else she may just love and relate to the characters. Either way she has a great imagination which means she is very creative! Are you and your daughter both from Germany?

Thanks for Sharing!
Ingrid
Toddlers Are Fun
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starstarstarstarstar 		Thanks Ingrid- some more background info
by: Anonymous

Hi Ingrid,
Thank you for your advice, first off.
I will definately apply it starting today.
I am from the States, but she was born here. She has both an American and German passports. As I teach English and intercultural training, I am trained to assess behavior in regards to verbal and non verbal communicative forms. I have noticed that my daughter tends to follow more the American forms (etiquette and so on). Since all our American family members are so far away, I really don't have the chance to ask anyone for the advice on certain matters that makes sense to us, so I am very happy to have found your website and am sure I will be using it often!
Again, many thanks and best regards!
Cassandra & Cecilia

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