Dramatic Play Overview
Description
The dramatic play center provides opportunities for students to collaborate, engage in learning, and build language skills through conversations. Children have the opportunity to role play real-life experiences by taking on many roles in imaginative play.
Purpose
- expression of feelings and emotions
- creativity, imagination, abstract thinking
- oral communication, vocabulary
- cooperation, sharing, taking turns
- fine motor development through role playing life skills (ex. buttoning, zipping)
Suggested Materials
- child-sized furniture replicating household or community environments
- play cooking supplies
- play food (variety including healthy food choices)
- dress up clothes
- theme dependent props
- multiethnic dolls and clothes
- telephone
- mirror
- writing utensils
- paper, clipboards, notepads
- reading materials (magazines, menus, cookbooks, etc.)
Questioning Examples
These guiding questions can be used to assist the teacher, instructional assistant, or parent volunteers in supporting children's development and learning during play.
- How can you sort the food? (The child may need to be asked which category each item goes in one at a time or given predetermined categories)
- Have the child set the table for the number of students in the dramatic play center. Ask, how many plates, cups, etc. do you need? Do you have enough? How many more or how many extras do you have?
- How have you used a (insert material such as telephone) before? What can you do with it?
- Why is your baby crying?
- What food are you cooking? How do you make it? Who are you serving it to?
Considerations
Please note materials should be rotated throughout the year as students' interests and themes change. At the beginning of the school year it is important to start with minimal materials to teach proper use and cleanup. This center should allow for enough space for at least three students to play with the furniture and props. The dramatic play center should be located in an area of the room that enables students to communicate without disrupting other children's work and play.