Little girls copy their mothers-feeding their dollies, sweeping the floor, fixing dinner. Little boys follow their dad's lead-using tools to fix a broken chair, playing cars, building things. If either of these is missing, it is important to provide substitutes. She couldn't eat until her doll was strapped in the high chair and had a bowl on her tray. She had watched her mother time and time again take care of her daughter's needs before her own.
Children absorb whatever they encounter.
If you are fortunate enough to have more than one child, encourage them to play together. There's a synergy between brothers and sisters fostered by similar background and a non-threatening environment that releases their imagination. They had staged the entire production by themselves. Lucy came riding into the room on Nathan's back with a bath towel draped over her head and a doll tucked triumphantly under her arm. Without warning Nathan stopped crawling and abruptly sprawled on the floor.