More Than Just Costumes!
We understand that dramatic play can be daunting, but it doesn't need to be that way! Letting children embrace their imagination is simple, and doesn't need costumes or puppets (however, those are great items to use). What children can create with pots, pans, blocks and even feathers is amazing, all you have to do is give them the opportunity!
Materials
The fun thing about dramatic play is that you can truly use anything, the sky is the limit! In the past, we have seen children use blocks as cellphones, pieces of paper as money for their pretend cafe and mud as cake batter in our mud kitchen outside. Children can make something from anything given the chance. Click the link below to find some starter ideas for materials you can find around the house to facilitate dramatic play.
(Homann & Weikart, 2005.)
What Goes In A Prop Box?
Prop boxes for dramatic play are fantastic when you're focusing on a certain theme for dramatic play. For example, when focusing on pretend play, filling a box with different clothes (such as shirts, costumes, wigs and bags) gives children the chance to create their own story based off of the items provided to them. Below you will find a link to a website offering 10 prop box ideas to get you started!
(Colker, 2013)
How You Can Do Dramatic Play At Home
Worried about where to start? Not feeling confident that your ideas are 'good'? We can help with that! Below is a link to a help you. confidently set up dramatic play in your home. While this resource is geared towards classrooms, that's no reason you can't steal some ideas from home! Remember, children are learning while they're using their imagination, so let their imagination run wild and join in with the fun!
(Albanese, 1970)
References:
Albanese, A. (1970). Setting up your dramatic play centre. Retrieved from https://www.mrsalbanesesclass.com/2017/08/setting-up-your-dramatic-play-centre.html
Colker, L. J. (2013). 10 Prop box ideas: Mini learning centers at home. Retrieved from https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/10-prop-box-ideas-mini-learning-centers-home
Hohmann, M., & Weikart, D. P. (2005). The House area. Retrieved from https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/the-house-area
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