Gravel scattered as the pint-sized Superhero leapt from the choo-choo train in a stumbling bound, and firmly planted his sock-and-sandal clad feet.

His glare dispersed part-time villains as a light breeze and healthy imagination buoyed his invisible, yet fluttering, red cape.

One of our family’s favorite photographs shows my Army veteran dad in his new uniform: pajamas and bathrobe.  The photo shows Dad perched at the edge of the sofa that dominated our den, as he dutifully fed a baby doll.

He had barely awakened and poured his coffee one Thanksgiving morning when a higher-ranking officer, my toddler daughter Nia, gave him his orders.

During the early childhood years, moms and dads create the learning environment that kids will use to rehearse skills for living.  Pretend play literally and figuratively lets children try on different emotional, social, linguistic, and body “costumes.”

One day a boy might be a tough guy – a man of few words who walks with a swagger; the next he’s a lost explorer trusting his hero friends to follow his cries for help.  Every child can be an Olympic champion – if Mom remembers to save the lids from the frozen orange juice for the medal ceremony.   For very little expenditure of money or time, parents can set the stage for the sociodramatic play that will benefit children for a lifetime.