Imaginative play is such a critical component to an early childhood education program.
Every two weeks our dramatic play center turns into different opportunities for the children to learn through role-playing!
This week, in connection to our family unit, we added an "extension" to our kitchen area! We created another room of the "home." The room included baby baths, more dolls, towels, bottles of shampoo, cream, powder (empty for pretend play), a hook with many sets of keys (this was a favorite), and more!
We like to offer the children "real" props! From metal pots and pans, to cloth oven mits and mixing bowls in the kitchen.
It is absolutely magical to watch the children of all age levels get involved in the world of imaginary play. The older t
Recent studies have proposed that imaginary play develops most important set of skills a child needs to succeed in the 21st century. Creative thinking, critical thinking and problem solving to name a few!
Here we share with you the joys (and learning) experienced in the dramatic play center this week!
Enjoy this short video ;)
Jessa is talking on the phone to her Mommy!
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| Change tables, baths, cribs... |
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| Keys! Which child doesn't like to hold Mom or Dad's keys?!?! These were a favorite! |
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| Whose baby will take a bath first? |
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| "I'll get the brush, you get the towel..." Dividing roles and turn taking! |
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| Feeding healthy food choices to her "baby." BL is able to be the mature adult... |
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| Tucking baby into bed! Shhh...baby sleeping. |
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| Discussions at the dinner table... |
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| Cooking up a storm! |
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| "Don't touch...its hot!" taking food out of the oven! |
It was amazing to watch almost every child ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES when placing the dolls in the baby baths! (Even though there was no water!)
Taking the imaginary play outdoors....Wrapping the dolls in blankets, walking them in strollers, caring for them in every way...
Through imaginary play, children:
- Come to terms with their feelings, thoughts, confusions, wishes, even fears.
- Change the power balance by "becoming" the
adults in charge: Mommy, Daddy, policeman, teacher, doctor,
carpenter, gardener, etc. Suspending the reality of their size,
age, and relative powerlessness is very reassuring.
- Fulfill some unacceptable wishes: returning the baby sister to the hospital, for example.
- Make sense of their social environment. If you pretend to be someone else, you will get a sense of how it feels to be that other person.
- Develop feelings of mastery and control. In
their role-playing, children are clearly in charge. And the play
gives them opportunities to use many of their developing skills:
eye-hand coordination, language proficiency, even large motor
performance on tricycles or jungle gyms.
- Learn concepts and symbols — far more meaningfully than in situations that call for mere memorization and rote behavior.
- Learn from their mistakes without mortification or any sense of failure. The list goes on...
