Imagine & explore

Change the ending

Pause near the end of a familiar story and invent a different ending together through words, drawing or pretend action.

10 minutes

What you'll need

Familiar sturdy book · Large paper and washable thick crayons, optional

Before you start

Child can choose between simple materials or pretend ideas in their preferred way

Best fit: indoors · medium energy · medium caregiver effort · medium mess

How to play

  1. Share a familiar short story and pause before the ending.
  2. Wonder aloud about another thing that could happen.
  3. Act, tell or draw the child's idea, then read the original ending only if they want.
Make it easier

Offer two possible endings for the child to choose or combine.

Standard

Pause near the end of a familiar story and invent a different ending together through words, drawing or pretend action.

Extend it

Invent two endings with different character choices and compare how each changes the story.

What you might notice

Notice how the child carries characters or events into a new possibility.

Keep it safe

Check that every material is intact, age-appropriate and non-toxic. Stay nearby, keep movement at floor level, and let the child stop, simplify or change the activity.

Why it may be useful

There is no single right result here—the value is in exploring, pretending and sharing the moment.

moderate

Outcomes depend on context and the child's interest; sensory preferences vary widely.

Weisberg, Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff (2016) — Guided Play: Principles and Practices

Quinn et al. (2020) — Pretend Play and Early Language Development—Relationships and Impacts: A Comprehensive Literature Review

Lillard et al. (2013) — The impact of pretend play on children's development: A review of the evidence

Raising Children Network (2025) — Toddler play: ideas, games and activities

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