Dramatic area preschool
Ultimate List of Dramatic Play Ideas for Preschoolers
Preschoolers love to pretend! Engaging in one of these rich dramatic play ideas is the best way for children to learn and grow in preschool. At a minimum, the basic dramatic play set-up is a housekeeping center, but when it’s time for a change, try one of these creative dramatic play center ideas in the home living area of your preschool classroom.
What can children learn while engaged in dramatic play?
The list of ways that children grow and develop while engaged in rich dramatic play is infinite.
- Children develop their imaginations. They learn to be creative and think out of the box.
- Students expand their vocabularies. They engage in authentic language development— talking to each other, listening, asking questions, using words and conversation for real purposes.
- Children practice negotiating, sharing, and taking turns.
- Early learners get practical experience with sorting, classification, and organizing.
- Children increase their ability to self-regulate.
- Children expand their attention spans while they plan play activities that last increasingly longer periods of time.
Airport – Dramatic Play Center
This dramatic play scenario is complex, engaging, and oh-so-cute! It is hands-down guaranteed to be one of the students’ very favorite ways to play. The Airport is the one center that students come back years later and ask about. It’s the one that even school-aged kids will play with for hours on end. It is a blast! Click HERE for more pictures.
Baby Nursery – Dramatic Play Center
Preschoolers love to pretend to take care of babies and it such an important lesson on how to be caring, gentle and loving. The best part is, most of the supplies are probably already in your playroom.
Click HERE for more pictures and ideas.
Birthday Party – Dramatic Play Center
Is there anything better than a birthday party for no reason at all?! No, there isn’t! This Birthday Party dramatic play center is easy because children typically know how to play it. They’ve likely been to many birthday parties and may even start planning their own party months in advance. If you’re just getting started, this one is great for the first month of school.
Cookie Shop
Bakery – Dramatic Play CenterChildren can bake and sell goodies at their very own Cookie Shop. The best parts of this center are the do-it-yourself cookies and double oven! Click on the picture below to see all of the photos.
Flower Shop – Dramatic Play Center
Setting up a flower shop is the perfect dramatic play scenario for spring, Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day.
The preschoolers count and add flowers in their bouquets and practice tying bows (or knots!) with ribbon. Click HERE for more inspiration.
Grocery Store – Dramatic Play Center
Ask your preschoolers to save and bring in all of their empty recycling containers, then use them to set up a “Shop Smart” grocery store. It’s guaranteed to be one of their favorites. Click HERE for simple step-by-step directions.
Hospital – Dramatic Play Center
This classic dramatic play center is another favorite. Set up a hospital with a triage cot, doctor costumes and lots of props. No explanation is needed! This is one of the centers (like the grocery store and the restaurant) that the children are usually very familiar with. They love to be called “Doctor”! Click HERE for more pictures of the set-up.
Hot Drink Cafe – Dramatic Play Center
Warm up with a mug of hot chocolate and a fresh pastry at the “Star Drinks” hot drink cafe.
Click HERE to see lots of photo inspiration.
Ice Cream Parlor – Dramatic Play Center
Chocolate and mint ice cream with cherries on top… coming right up! Preschoolers love to scoop and sell this summer treat to their friends. Click HERE to see more pictures.
Library – Dramatic Play Center
Do your students love to reread the books that you share with them in class? Set your dramatic play area up as a Library. Allow them to “check out” books with their very own library card and return them to school the next day.
Pancake and Waffle
Cafe – Dramatic Play CenterWhat’s for breakfast?! Add the pancake and waffle sets (available HERE and HERE from Melissa & Doug) to the kitchen and fire up the grill. Children will love the custom menus and all of the toppings for their delicious breakfast.
Pizza Parlor – Dramatic Play Center
Make a brick oven from a cardboard box and a roll of “brick” wrapping paper.
Preschoolers will make pizzas, and order pizzas, and deliver pizzas, and pretend to eat pizzas ALL.DAY.LONG! Click HERE to see all the photos.
Post Office – Dramatic Play Center
Invite children to write letters to the parents or grandparents, to make cards for their classmates, and to deliver the mail at the Post Office Dramatic Play Center. Click HERE to see lots of pictures.
Restaurant – Dramatic Play Center
Can we take your order? The restaurant dramatic play center is chock full of opportunities to practice reading, writing, and teamwork. Click HERE to see the menu and order forms that are perfect for emergent readers.
Sandwich Shop – Dramatic Play Center
Switch the general restaurant into a fast-food sandwich shop. With this dramatic play idea, students will follow the menu board from left to right to choose the bread, protein, vegetables, and toppings for their very own sandwich.
Taco Stand – Dramatic Play Center
Would you like a taco or a burrito from this very popular Taco Stand? Preschoolers will take your order then create the taco or burrito of your choice. What a way to “spice” up the dramatic play center!
Vet Clinic – Dramatic Play Center
While you’re learning about zoo animals, pets, or even the farm, this dramatic play Vet Clinic is a great way to engage children in pretend play. They will care for the animals and become veterinarians, x-ray technicians, and nurses.
Fairy Tale Plays – Theater Dramatic Play Idea
Transformed trifold science boards into a straw house, a stick house and a brick house for an adorable version of the Three Little Pigs. Preschoolers who can memorize and act out stories will have great comprehension skills when they get to school. It’s also fun act out Goldilocks and the Three Billy Goats Gruff.
Fountain Drink Machine – Prop for Dramatic Play
Whether you’re setting up a plain restaurant, a pizza parlor, an ice cream shop, or a taco stand, here’s a surefire FUN way to spice it up. Add a drink machine! You can use a box or a bookshelf with just a few simple additions (paper cups and tissue paper) to make it extraordinary. Click HERE for more details.
Window Washer – Dramatic Play Idea
If you’re looking for a quick set-up, cheap center, this is it! Get all the supplies from the dollar store and added water. It’s great for summer, too. Take those kids outside and put them to work! Sometimes the best dramatic play ideas are the simplest.
Dinosaur Dig Site – Dramatic Play Center
Put on paleontology hats and look for dinosaur bones and footprints at this dramatic play dig site. Click HERE to see how to use a simple ingredient from the craft store to turn the sensory table into an excavation site.
Do your kids like to pretend or role play? What is your favorite way to set it up? Whatever it is, have tons of fun playing and learning with your children today.
Be sure to follow this Dramatic Play Pinterest board for even more dramatic play ideas.
Follow Play to Learn Preschool’s board Dramatic Play Preschool on Pinterest.
All dramatic play idea printables are available HERE:
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How to Set up the Dramatic Play Center in an Early Childhood Classroom
The Dramatic play center is a place students can go to pretend, imagine, and be creative. Students can pretend to be anyone and do anything! This is powerful for our little learners.
It is a place that promotes high-level thinking, problem solving, turn taking, and is rich place for teaching vocabulary. Students can learn and develop skills in all learning domains (language, literacy, math, science, social studies, fine motor, gross motor, and social skills) through pretend play.
The Dramatic play center is an amazing place in your classroom if you are intentional with the materials and experiences you plan and set up for your students. Every year our Dramatic play center is home living the first month of school and the last month of school. Home living is something every child can relate to and can enjoy. You can check out all of my dramatic play units HERE.
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Label everything in your center so students (and teachers) know where everything goes. It makes clean up so much easier for students. Your labels can be photographs of the props you use, or use Clip art. Be sure to pair the picture with the word on your labels.
Students will “read” the labels and notice the letters as they use and clean up the props. Each one of my Dramatic play units comes with the labels for the center!
Add props slowly and intentionally. Don’t be afraid of empty or bare shelves especially at the beginning of the year. When school started some of my shelves were empty. Imagine the shelf above without the recipe book, cookie jar, blender, pitcher, and tub of material. That is what it looked like on the first day. Other kitchen props you can add are a coffee maker, cleaning supplies, mixer, and toaster.
Add props based on what students are playing. For example, one week I observed students pretending to make cookies so the next week I added a recipe book and cookies. Another week, I observed students pretending to sleep so the next week I added a tub of materials for students to use as blankets and/or beds. (Just a note: I add new items to all my classroom centers every Monday).
One of the first things students do is decide who they want to pretend to be.
Students will start to make a plan for play. They will discuss who they want to be and what they want to do. To do this we use role necklaces in my classroom. Role necklaces help students identify who their friend is pretending to be. It is also a visual reminder for the child wearing the necklace to help them remember who they are pretending to be.
Providing a variety of dress up clothes, shoes, accessories, and hats make pretend play more fun! Plus all the putting on and taking off is great for strengthening fine motor muscles. Clothing and accessories are a fabulous way to infuse other cultures into your classroom too!
Food! Every home living center needs food. Have a variety of food to support all your students. Put out plastic, realistic food for your younger students and food containers for your older students to support imaginary play. I LOVE adding watered down paint to the inside of bottles and jars to make the props more eye appealing for students.
For example, I coated the inside of the jelly jar with purple paint. My favorite realistic food props are Melissa and Doug eggs, cookies set, sandwich set, pizza set, and pasta set.
Use small manipulatives (or pom poms) for food to support imaginary play. This friend is pretending these pom poms are green beans. Students use higher level thinking during imaginary play. You can find these small pots here.
Do you need more pretend food? Have the students make it! In a small group my students used Model Magic to create these yummy popsicles. Air dry clay works well too. When students make props for the Dramatic play center, they are more invested in their play!
Students LOVE babies. Don’t forget to add a few other baby items too such as baby food jars, baby spoons, bottles, diapers, and/or baby clothes. When you add babies, it allows students to practice taking care of someone else. You are also teaching them to be kind and care for others (aka character education).
Adding pets is something new I have added to my home living center the past few years and the students LOVE it. Students can pretend to care for the animals and practice being responsible. It is an easy way to sneak in some social studies and science too (wants and needs)!
Be intentional and plan reading and writing opportunities for students. As students play, they are reading the labels, reading a recipe, writing a shopping list, and reading the labels on props.
We all know how important and powerful environmental print is. It is super easy to add tons of environmental print into your Dramatic play center. Put empty food containers in the refrigerator, restaurant menus by the phone, and store ads by the shopping lists. Students will be reading constantly during play!
Now that you have embed writing and reading into their play, plan and create a few math opportunities too. Sort your cups by size and add a real or pretend clock. Add measuring spoons and cups for students to measure ingredients when they are cooking.
Add cooking utensils that are different sizes and colors.
Don’t forget the walls. Add a window and make your home come to life. Hang photographs of students and their families on the wall too. Another easy way to infuse culture in your center!
Change it up, don’t have your dramatic play center be a home all year. Your students will get bored and we all know what happens when students are bored….challenging behaviors. For the first month and last month of the school year, the dramatic play center is a home. Then with each theme, we change it into a new place!
Based on the season and student interest we change it into something new every theme. The students help me brainstorm what props we need and who we can pretend to be. They help me make props, create the signs, and we set up the center. The center is closed for play the first few days when we are setting the new place up. Last fall, we changed it into a Pumpkin Patch! Each week I slowly added props and this is what it looked like at the end of the unit.
(The yellow line on the floor was our corn maze).
Keep reading to check out a few more of my favorite dramatic play themes.
Books, books, and more books! Read books about your theme to build students background knowledge. They will use their new knowledge and vocabulary during play. You will observe their play scripts become longer (what students say when they are pretending to be someone), their number of play interactions will increase and their play will accurately reflect real life.
Monica Wellington is one of my favorite authors. Her books are amazing and support Dramatic play. Stuart Murphy has some books in his Math Start series that are fun to use. Lucy Cousin writes a series about the mouse Maisy. The books have simple text and illustrations that are perfect for younger learners.
Pizza at Sally’s, Mr. Cookie Baker, Sally goes to the Vet, Five Monkeys Bake a Cake, Rabbit’s Pajama Party, Put it on the List, Not a Box, Maisy Goes Camping, A Pair of Socks
Don’t forget to read non-fiction books to support their play too! Some of my favorites are: ABC Jobs, A Day in the Life of a Zookeeper, A Day in the Life of a Veterinarian, Families in Many Cultures, Let’s Ice Skate, What We Wear, Buying a Pet from Ms.
Chavez, and Mr. Yee Fixes Cars.
Feeling inspired but don’t want to spend ALL your time creating all the labels, signs, and prop patterns? Don’t worry. I’ve got you! In my TPT store, you will find 22 different dramatic play themes (including home living). Each includes a teacher planning web, possible props list, parent letter, labels, signs, role necklaces, prop patterns, real classroom photographs, and MORE! Just click on any image to check them out.
Buy them individually or save big and buy the money-saving Dramatic Play Bundle! It’s packed with 22 different dramatic play units like Home Living, Birthday Party, Ice Skating Rink, Ice Cream Shop, Auto Shop, Vet, Pizza Resturant, Zoo, Aquarium, Beach, Bakery, Campsite, Farm, Grocery Store, Pet Store, Pumpkin Patch, Fire Station, Space Station, Post Office, Construction Site, Dinosaur Dig, Flower Shop,
Like it? Pin this image for later!
Need more inspiration? Check out my Dramatic Play Pinterest board.
MKDOU No.
20 of the city of Kirov - We have only victories in everything, although we are called FIDGET!!! -
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Training in the Basics of Healthy Nutrition programs
Dear parents! We inform you that the Novosibirsk Scientific Research Institute of Hygiene of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare has prepared health education programs “Basics of Healthy Nutrition” (hereinafter referred to as the Programs). The programs are designed to raise citizens' awareness of the basic principles Read more…
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dou20
Survey on the priority areas of family leisure
Dear citizens of Kirov! The City Department of Culture invites you to take part in the joint development of the "City Family Subscription" program and take a survey on the priority areas of family leisure.
The results of this survey will be used to plan and organize various activities for children and their parents Read more… -
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The child is the main passenger!
Dear parents! According to the results of the first half of 2022, there were 52 accidents on the roads of Kirov involving children under the age of 16 (+18.2%, APPG - 44 accidents), in which 54 children were injured (+20%, APPG - 45 Read more next…
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Child safety! Caution, open window!
In the warm season, the issue of child safety with open windows is especially relevant.
Every year, a huge number of children die and are injured from falls from a height, especially in cities. Children are vulnerable because of their natural curiosity. As a rule, in all cases of falling, children read more ... -
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Parent meeting for newly admitted children.
Dear parents! We invite you to a meeting for parents of newly arriving children. We are waiting for you on July 15 (Friday) at 17.30 in the music hall of the kindergarten. We look forward to meeting you at our beloved kindergarten!
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Online survey of parents
Dear parents! From 06/01/2022 to 06/10/2022, in accordance with the action plan to minimize "everyday" corruption in the municipal educational organizations of the city of Kirov, subordinate to the Department of Education of the Administration of the City of Kirov, an anonymous survey of parents is being conducted.
To do this, follow the link: https://forms.yandex.ru/u/628e2c3995aa83f912695392/ 06/01/2022 Read more… -
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Safety information from the Russian Emergencies Ministry
Dear parents, the EMERCOM of Russia application has now been developed for mobile devices and is available for download on the appropriate platforms. This application helps you instantly find information about what to do in case of an emergency. It can be useful both at home and Read more…
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Creation of a comfortable urban environment environment” of the national project “Housing and urban environment”. It will be possible to choose a landscaping project on Read more…
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Survey "Top 10 places in your favorite city".
Dear parents! The Department of Culture of the city administration invites Kirov residents to take part in the annual citywide survey "10 TOP places in your favorite city." Before May 1, 2022, everyone is invited to fill out a questionnaire in which it is necessary to indicate no more than three favorite streets located in the central Read more…
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Materials on the prevention of child road traffic injuries.
Dear parents! In order to prevent child injuries on the roads and develop skills for the safe participation of children in road traffic, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the following materials: videos about the safety of children at railway transport facilities; memo for parents on compliance with safety rules on Read more…
MADOU "Kindergarten No. 6", Ussuriysk UGO
Our kindergarten is a socio-pedagogical, open system that interacts with the external environment, at the same time it is a constituent unit of the municipal, regional and federal educational system.
On the issues of upbringing, education and development of preschoolers, our preschool institution cooperates with various organizations: "Territorial Department of Guardianship and Guardianship of the Department of Education and Science of the Primorsky Territory in the Ussuriysk City District", "Department of Education and Youth Policy of the Administration of the Ussuriysk City District", Regional State Budgetary healthcare institution "Ussuriysk Central City Hospital" Joint Venture "Polyclinic No.
2, MBUK "Drama Theater named after V.F. Komissarzhevskaya of the Ussuriysk City District", MBOU "Gymnasium No. 29"Ussuriysk, MAOU secondary school No. 25, preschool educational institution No. 10, 4, 8, 39, MKU "Methodical Cabinet", Central Children's Library named after N.K. Krupskaya, School of Pedagogy FGAOU VPO "Far Eastern Federal University".
From 2015 to 2018, MADOU took part in the seminars: "Information security and protection of the rights of personal data subjects";
"Games aimed at the development of fantasy and verbal creativity, contributing to the development of coherent speech of preschoolers";
“Technological competence of a teacher for work on the Federal State Educational Standard of preschool education. Festival of Modern Educational Technologies, Vladivostok;
"Working with parents" MBDOU D / S No. 5;
"Ecoschool for preschool children";
"Intellectual development of preschool children by means of play activities";
"Activating communication in the framework of the speech development of preschoolers"; "Theatricalization in the development of children's speech";
"Patriotic education of preschool children".
On the basis of our institution, a regional seminar was held on the topic: "Effective solution of problematic issues of the implementation of the Federal State Educational Standard and modern preschoolers", "Game as a means of cognitive activity".
Participation in the municipal professional competitions "Teacher of the Year", "School of Excellence", "Best Pedagogical Practices".
Participation in scientific and methodological conferences on the basis of the FEFU School of Pedagogy.
Twice the children's team of our MADOU became laureates of the festival of young talents "Wonderland" in the nomination "Choreography", Diploma of the 2nd degree in the nomination "Choreography", in the nomination "Vocal" - diploma of the 1st degree.
Municipal Ecological Action: Diploma of the 1st Degree "Winter Fun", diplomats of the 3rd degree.
Municipal Ecological Festival "Day of the Tiger" Diploma of the 3rd degree.
Literary quiz among pupils of preschool institutions of the Ussuri city district - the team took 1st place.
Municipal competition of readers "With love for the word" - diploma of the 2nd degree - 2 people.
Municipal competition of arts and crafts: 6 people received diplomas of the 1st degree, 6 people - diplomas of the 2nd degree, 3 people - diplomas of the 3rd degree.
Municipal competition for traffic rules "Green Light" - the team took 2nd place.
Small Olympic Games among preschool institutions of the Ussuri city district - the team took 3rd place.
City competition dedicated to the 121st anniversary of K.I. Chukovsky among preschool educational institutions - 2nd place (team).
City intellectual tournament - 1st place (team).
City chess tournament - 2nd place (team).
All-Russian photo contest II place - 1 person.
All-Russian competition of fine arts - 3 people - 1st place, 7 people - 2nd place.
Teaching staff.
- All-Russian Competition "Colors of Autumn" - 1st degree diploma.
- International Festival "New Year's Marathon" - 1st degree diploma.
- All-Russian competition "Winter fun with a snowman" - Diploma of the 1st degree.
- The team of the teaching staff took 1st place in the sports festival "Merry Starts" among preschool workers in the Ussuriysk city district.
- All-Russian competition preschool educational institution "Izyuminka-2" - 1st place.
- All-Russian competition of preschool educational institutions "Informatics in DC" - 2nd place in the Far Eastern Federal District.
- Laureates of the regional "Festival of Modern Educational Technologies".
- Diploma 1st place (No. 0051) - in the All-Russian Olympiad "My calling is an educator."
- Diploma 1st place (No. 0050) - in the All-Russian Olympiad "The system of activity of a teacher of a preschool educational group in the context of the Federal State Educational Standard of DO".
- Diploma 1st place (No. 3183) - in the All-Russian competition of creative works "This Great Victory Day".
- Diploma 1st place (No. 0019) - in the All-Russian Olympiad "Methods of working with parents."
- Diploma 1st place (No. 0018) - in the All-Russian Olympiad "The system of work in preschool educational institutions."
- Diploma of the 1st degree (No. 1320) - in the international festival "New Year's Marathon".
- Diploma of II degree - in the All-Russian competition "the best methodical development".
- Diploma of III degree - in the All-Russian distance competition with international participation "The best modern lesson".
- Methodological development of an integrated lesson in English and physical education submitted to the international competition "Teacher by vocation" - 2nd place.
PUBLICATIONS.
- The material "Using information and promotional materials when working with families in kindergarten in order to create a unified educational space" was published in the collection of works by participants in the fair-exhibition of pedagogical skills, "Education - the territory of innovation.
" - Certificate "Scenario for Mother's Day".
- Certificate "Water Cycle", abstract of the lesson.
- Portal "Education Resources", http://resobr.ru/materials/
- Certificate of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education (FEFU) School of Pedagogy for participation in the project "Open Teachers' World" and placement of materials in the "Bank of Pedagogical Ideas" resource on the website of the library of the FEFU branch in Ussuriysk http ://lib.uspi.ru of the project "Continuity and a single educational space".
- Certificate of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education (FEFU) School of Pedagogy for participation in the project "Open Teachers' World" and placement of materials in the "Bank of Pedagogical Ideas" resource on the website of the library of the FEFU branch in Ussuriysk http ://lib.
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