🗞️ By indiaherald Staff Writer
📍 From delhi NCR | Milestone Awareness Series | In Association with Pinnacleblooms.org
“She Didn’t Like Toys. She Arranged Them.”
Reema’s daughter, Ria, was 3.
Polite. Obedient. Quiet.
She sat for hours with her dolls — lining them up.
Not dressing them. Not feeding them. Not talking to them.
She liked puzzles. Shapes. Books.
But when Reema asked, “Can you make a tea for Amma?” — Ria just stared.
When her cousin played “Doctor-Patient,” she walked away.
“We thought she was just mature. Practical. Focused.
Not silly like other kids.”
Until her preschool teacher said:
“She doesn’t pretend. And that’s something we need to talk about.”
🧠 Pretend Play Isn’t Just Cute — It’s Crucial
At Pinnacle® delhi NCR, early childhood experts explain:
“Pretend play is where social understanding begins.
It shows empathy. Flexibility. Abstract thinking.
Children who avoid it may be showing early signs of autism or social cognitive delay.”
Key red flags:
- Doesn’t play “teacher,” “doctor,” “mom,” or “cook” by age 3
- Lines up toys instead of playing with them
- Doesn’t assign voices, roles, or actions to objects
- Stays literal, rigid, or avoids group play
📞 They Called the Helpline Not Out of Panic — But Curiosity
Reema called 9100 181 181, unsure of what to say.
The counselor said:
“You’re not late. Let’s explore gently. Let’s screen and understand — without fear.”
They booked a free AbilityScore©® screening for Ria.
📊 The Results Were Clear. And Kind.
- Imaginative Play: 🔴 red (480/1000)
- Peer Play: 🟡 Yellow
- Social Communication: 🔴 Red
- Visual-Spatial Reasoning: 🟢 Green (860/1000)
Ria had incredible memory. Loved patterns.
But she wasn’t socializing. Wasn’t abstracting.
She was functioning — not relating.
“We praised her for being quiet. But she was quietly struggling.”
🧠 Therapy Didn’t Force Pretend — It Built The Steps Toward It
Using TherapeuticAI©®, her plan included:
- Parallel play with visual scripting
- Doll-house role-play with therapist prompts
- Emotion flashcards turned into stories
- Pretend play through structured storytelling
- Gradual shift to peer imitation + flexibility
By week 6:
- Ria played “Tea-Time” with her therapist
- Pretended to be a shopkeeper
- Started narrating what her doll was “thinking”
“She entered the world we thought she didn’t care about.
Turns out — she just didn’t know how to begin.”
💬 What Her Mother Says Now:
“She wasn’t practical. She was paused.
And Pinnacle® gave her the play button she needed.”
🌍 This Autism Awareness Month — watch the Play Before It Disappears
If your child: ✅ Doesn’t pretend
✅ Doesn’t join role-play
✅ Lines up objects without purpose
✅ Repeats the same non-interactive routines
…it’s time to explore what might be missing — not in their ability, but in their world-building.
📞 Book Your Child’s Social Play Screening in delhi NCR
📞 Call the Pinnacle® National Autism Helpline: 9100 181 181
🌐 www.Pinnacleblooms.org
📍 South Extension | Rohini | Dwarka | noida | Greater Noida
✅ Free AbilityScore©® Play & Social Zone Assessment
✅ Personalized Therapy Plan via TherapeuticAI©®
✅ Role-Play Development Modules + Parent Coaching
✅ Hindi, English, urdu Support Available
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article is intended for informational and awareness purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for professional evaluation, diagnosis, or therapy. For expert guidance tailored to your child’s needs, please consult a qualified healthcare provider — or contact the Pinnacle® national autism helpline at 9100 181 181.
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