At what age does pretend play first emerge?

Pretend play, also known as symbolic or imaginative play, typically begins to emerge around 18 months of age. At this stage, children start to engage in simple forms of pretend play, such as using objects to represent something else and imitating actions they observe in adults. For example, a child might use a block to represent a phone or mimic cooking by pretending to stir a pot.

This developmental milestone reflects a significant cognitive leap, as children begin to understand that objects can symbolize something else, which paves the way for more complex forms of play and learning. By around 18 months, social interaction and language development are also improving, supporting a child's ability to engage in and understand the roles and scenarios they are creating in their pretend play.

While pretend play can develop further and become more sophisticated between 2 to 2.5 years, the initial signs are best observed around 18 months, making it the correct answer.