When do infants usually begin to show pretend play?

• A. Birth
• B. 18-24 months
• C. 6-9 months
• D. 3-4 years

Answer: (B)

Pretend play begins when children start using objects to represent something else and act out imagined scenarios, which comes with the growth of symbolic thinking. This typically appears around 18–24 months. At this age, toddlers begin to imitate others, use a toy as if it were something real (like feeding a doll or talking on a toy phone), and create simple pretend situations. Earlier in infancy, play is mainly sensorimotor—exploring objects through sight, touch, and movement without symbolic use. By ages 3–4, pretend play becomes more elaborate and dramatic with more complex stories and roles, but the onset of pretend play most commonly occurs in the 18–24 month window.