Which is an example of symbolic/pretend play in processing illness?

• A. Watching a doll to act out a procedure
• B. Using a doll to act out a procedure
• C. Running in the hall
• D. Coloring

Answer: (B)

Symbolic or pretend play in illness processing happens when a child uses objects to stand for people or parts of the illness experience and enacts a scenario to understand and cope with what’s happening. Using a doll to act out a procedure shows the child actively symbolizing the medical process—taking roles, stepping through the steps, and rehearsing what might occur. This kind of enactment helps the child feel some control, predict outcomes, and express fears in a safe, manageable way. Observing a doll perform the procedure is less about the child’s own symbolic processing and more about watching, which doesn’t engage the same level of personal enactment. Running in the hall is just physical activity, and coloring, while beneficial for expression, isn’t necessarily a pretend play scenario related to illness. So using a doll to act out a procedure best demonstrates symbolic/pretend play in processing illness.