Imaginative Play

As I was enforcing a time a time-out for John today, I overheard Jenna talking to a friend in the bathroom.

“We’re going to play doctor, where the patients all have to be cleaned so they won’t pass on any diseases.  And the kids don’t want to get those diseases, either, so everyone needs to clean each other.  I’ll be the doctor, and you be all the patients.”

I’m wondering what in the world they are talking about, but don’t go in to see just yet.

“How does that feel?”

“That tickles!”

“?”

Then Natalie goes in there to use the bathroom for something and says, “You guys had better clean that up!”

“I’m getting a towel!” says Jenna.

That would be my cue to see what’s going on.  They are ‘cleaning’ each other with a spray bottle of water.  Squirt, Squirt, Squirt.

A little while later, they had both changed into swimsuits and were headed outside to squirt each other while jumping on the tramp.  John found a squirt gun and joined in the fun.  Until they squirted him too many times and he decided they were being mean, that is.
Later still, I see them both in the sparkliest clothes they could find.  “Are you playing dress-up?” I asked.  “No, we’re dancing,” they said.

Do you remember when you could just play pretend all day?