DD1 is currently playing a game where she is "doesn't have any money" and has to have other people give her things. I'm assuming this stems from our adopting a family this holiday, but I'm kind of disturbed by it and don't know what to do? Obviously the point of including her in this exercise was to help her realize that there are less fortunate people and develop some empathy, but it feels really wrong to have her pretend. Is this normal for her age (she'll be 5 in march)? What do I say or do?
I think it's normal. Did you explain at all why these people don't have money and need help (hard times, someone in the family got sick, etc)? I wouldn't think pretending is necessarily bad because it's part of how kids that age process things, but might want to direct the pretending some so it's not practicing panhandling or something.
I am not sure if it is the 'right' thing to do, but this is my initial reaction...
I would interject myself in the game, and model generosity by giving her whatever she needs/is asking for. Then, I would ask her how she ended up with nothing (did she get sick, lose her job, etc). And then would offer to teach her or help her with whatever she needed to get herself back on her feet - ie, "what kind of job would you like to do?" (to model 'empowering yourself'). I guess the lesson I would want my DD to take away, is that we should help people when they need it. And if you need help, it is ok to ask for it, but you also need to help yourself if you can.
(obviously there will always be people who aren't able to help themselves, and there is a true need for charity and generosity in those situations, but that doesn't seem to be your concern here)
I like Becca's suggestion. The only thing that I would worry about at her age is that being poor looks awesome...people bring you good food and fun toys. I would throw some scenarios into the role play to show that things are tough when you don't have money. For example "Let's go to [her favorite place]. Oh wait, we can't go to [her favorite place], because we don't have any money."
This is normal. She is playing out something she doesn't understand. When I was little I had a friend who ALWAYS played this type of game. All the other little girls pretended to be princess/cheerleader/ kittens whatever, & she would be the " beggar". It was strange that she ALWAYS did that, but it wasn't uncommon at all.