Dramatic Play
~Jean Piaget~"The principle goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not just simply repeating what other generations have done." |
"Dramatic play permits children to fit the reality of the world into their own interests and knowledge. One of the purest forms of symbolic thought available to young children, dramatic play contributes strongly to the intellectual development of children." ~Jean Piaget Dramatic Play
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All Information below is from:
http://www.teachingstrategies.com/content/pageDocs/CC4_Ch7_exrpt.pdf
Create a Dramatic Play Environment
Social Studies: In the picture above there is a home setting with a kitchen and a grocery story. A great addition to a dramatic play setting is a grocery store to allow the students the opportunity to pretend to shop for food. This is a great way to incorporate social studies into dramatic play.
Literacy: Reading and writing is incorporated into their play by having literacy materials available such as magazines, signs, food boxes, telephones, papers and tools to write with. Mathematics: Math concepts can be explored by the children setting the table, using the cash register, playing with money or discussing the time. |
Ways Dramatic Play Helps Promote Development"Dramatic play is central to children’s healthy development and learning during the preschool years. For this reason, every Creative Curriculum classroom includes an area designed to inspire creative and imaginative play. In the Dramatic Play Area, children break through the restrictions of reality. They pretend to be someone or something different from themselves and make up situations and actions that go along with the role they choose. When children engage in dramatic play they deepen their understanding of the world and develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives." Social/Emotional Development ~ Dramatic play helps to develop social skills by having to communicate with others. These developed social skills are very similar to real life situations. Emotional skills are also developed because the children are taking on different roles. Dramatic play allows children the opportunity to step into someone else's shoes. Studies show that children who participate in dramatic play show more empathy towards others.
Physical Development ~ During dramatic play children are given many opportunities to change costumes, handle props and clean up. These opportunities allow the children to practice hand-eye coordination, small muscle skills, and discrimination skills. Cognitive Development ~ During dramatic playtime children are actively using their imaginations developing mental images of what they would like to play or create. The children are pulling from their experiences and making their ideas come to life. By doing this the children are thinking abstractly. Math concepts are explored when playing in the grocery store. Children are also developing communication and teamwork skills by discussing their ideas and solving problems together, as well as developing math concepts by playing in the grocery store. Language Development ~ Children must use their words to communicate with others during dramatic playtime. Children's language will take on new forms as they pick and choose different characters. Literacy materials should be scattered around the dramatic play area to develop reading and writing skills. |
~Sources Cited~
http://www.teachingstrategies.com/content/pageDocs/CC4_Ch7_exrpt.pdf
http://www.wiu.edu/thecenter/art/artexpress/draplay.html
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jean_piaget.html