Gabby shrinks and steps into the dollhouse without a grown-up beside her. The tone is excited, but some children notice she is suddenly 'away'.
Theme. Moving from the real room into a pretend world is a small leaving-behind. For young children, even playful transitions can feel like a pause in closeness.
What to say. You might say: 'She is still in the same house -- we are just pretending to go inside the toy.' Pause if your child looks for you more than for the screen.
