Preschool Classroom DRAMATIC PLAY (Homeliving/Housekeeping)

The dramatic play pretend area is often the place where the most imaginative and involved play occurs.

Goals/Skills:

• Understand and experience the adult world through imitation
• Means to express feelings and emotions
• Assist in better understanding their world
• Experience a sense of power by imitating grown-ups
• Develop creativity and imagination
• Experience different roles
• Improvision and symbolic use of items – abstract thinking

Supervision and Tips:

• Observe and listen to the children’s behavior
• Interact on the child’s eye level by sitting or kneeling
• Encourage children to talk about what it is they are doing
• Participate when invited ("tea party" guest, etc)
• Help encourage socialization and social play
• Avoid making yourself the focus of interest – excuse yourself when appropriate
• Allow children to work out their difficulties and conflicts independently if at all possible
• Do not have too many props in this area, or clean up can be overwhelming

Suggested Toys and Materials:

• Cups
• Silverware
• Dinnerware
• Cookware
• Table/Chairs
• Kitchen Furniture
• Kitchen Items
• Aprons
• Vase and Flowers
• Plastic Food
• Empty Food Boxes
• Broom, Dustpan
• Dish Towel
• Home Living Furniture
• Phones
• Family Themed Dress Up Clothes
• Suitcases
• Purses
• Wallets
• Dolls and Baby Items
• Toiletries
• Sponge Curlers
• Old Hair Dryers - Cords Removed
• Full Length Mirror
• Lunch Boxes
• Tool Belts
• Tools and Tool Box

How to Set Up a Dramatic Play Area

Prop Boxes in Dramatic Play

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