Why is dramatic play important for preschoolers

What It Is and Why It’s Important

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November 5, 2021

Have you ever watched kids play dress-up to prepare for an audience with the Queen, or pretend that they’re astronauts headed into space, or leap around the living room without touching the floor because it’s lava? If so, you’ve witnessed dramatic play in action.

What is dramatic play? It’s the kind of play where kids take on roles and act them out as a way of exploring themselves and their surroundings. By pretending to be someone—or something—else, children can learn new ways to express themselves, share thoughts and ideas, and even get in touch with their feelings. Dramatic play is a very important part of childhood development.

There are three main stages of childhood development. There’s early childhood, which spans birth to eight years old. Next up is middle childhood from 8to 12 years of age, followed by adolescence, which covers ages 12 to 18. Dramatic play is important during the early childhood stage of development, as kids start to grow into themselves more and start to have a greater understanding of their individuality.

There are two types of dramatic play. They are:

Structured Play: This is the kind of play where there’s a game plan for the kind of play that kids are engaging in. This could mean a teacher or parent has created a scenario that has a definitive end point. For example, maybe they’re shopping at a grocery store, shipping a package at the post office, or buying a bouquet at the flower shop. In these scenarios, there are defined roles that are dictated by the situation, and the play leads to a specific conclusion (for example, completing their purchase at the grocery store).
Unstructured Play: This form of dramatic play is more freeform and left up to the kids to choose how they want to play, and how—or even if—it ends. This is where the classic “floor is lava” scenario comes into play, but other examples might be pretend play like being a dinosaur stomping around the living room or using a spoon as a “magnifying glass” while hunting for butterflies in the basement.

Examples of Dramatic Play

Young children may engage in dramatic play in a variety of ways, including:
Role-playing, such as being the parent to a doll or pretending to be a doctor seeing patients
Dressing up, whether putting on their parents’ clothes and shoes, or putting on a costume that was made specifically for them
Fixing things like the TV, the kitchen faucet, or the car, offering their diagnoses of the problem and how they can solve it
Exploring and adventuring, whether in their own room or the backyard, discovering new creatures and unseen worlds

Dramatic play benefits are numerous. In addition to supporting creativity and self-expression, dramatic play can help children learn real life skills and social skills that can serve them throughout their lives, from engaging in dramatic play for toddlers, to playtime in their preschool classroom, and beyond. Technology can also play a part in dramatic play, giving kids an entirely different arena in which to explore themselves and the world around them.

The benefits of dramatic play include:

Learning conflict resolution, helping children to learn creative problem-solving skills alongside their peers
Exploring self-empowerment, allowing kids the opportunity to make choices, act out their feelings, and find a new connection to themselves
Learning math and literacy, particularly in play that includes playing with numbers (like the grocery store game)
Blowing off steam, so overly energetic children have another outlet to decompress and have fun
Engaging in language development, encouraging kids to express themselves in different ways, whether playing a role or playing as themselves
Embracing self-regulation, especially in role-playing where children are expected to fulfill a particular part in the play scenario

There are many ways that educators and parents like you can encourage dramatic play, both in a school setting and at home. For example, you can:

Buy some fun clothes from a thrift store and suggest playing dress up at home, encouraging your child to embrace role playing and drive the play narrative
Make time for dramatic play in the classroom, using a theme as a guide and giving kids an outline to follow within that theme
Engage in your own form of dramatic play at home and encourage your kids to join in, whether it’s opening a pretend restaurant where you make pizza or going hunting for monsters in the house
Give students a toy that they must create a narrative around, and break the class up into groups to explore that narrative

It’s important for parents and teachers to collaborate on dramatic play efforts so that each side of the child’s developmental support system is aware of the progress happening both at home and at school. Although many teachers learn about dramatic play while they’re pursuing their degrees, parents might not be as aware of it—and how important it is for early childhood development. By partnering with a teacher who has in-depth knowledge of dramatic play, everyone can collaborate on the themes and approaches that best suit their child.

Although dramatic play can differ from child to child and classroom to home, its results are the same: vibrant, playful children who find strength and comfort in their own self-expression.

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6 Reasons Why Dramatic Play Matters

It’s hard not to smile when you see young kids take part in imaginative play. The pile of pillows in the living room becomes a pirate ship, their friends and siblings become a fearsome gang of treasure-hungry swashbucklers and the dog’s now pulling double duty as a man-eating shark.

These kids’ pirate adventures may just seem like some simple afternoon of fun, but they’re actually engaging in a positive learning experience called dramatic play. You may have heard of dramatic play before, but do you know what it is or why it matters for your kids?

Believe it or not, something as simple as an hour of pretend playtime can provide real benefits to children’s cognitive development. We have the scoop on what dramatic play entails, why it matters and how you can encourage this activity with your kids.

What is dramatic play?

While academic research using terms like “sociodramatic play” to describe this activity might make it sound like an intimidating concept to grasp, you’re probably already familiar with dramatic play.

“Dramatic play, also called pretend play, involves acting out real-world situations and taking on the roles of different characters,” says Lily Jones, former kindergarten teacher and founder of Curiosity Forever.

"Children use dramatic play to explore their own thoughts and feelings."

There are two primary types of dramatic play: structured and unstructured. Unstructured dramatic play gives children the freedom to choose their own roles and play scenarios. Structured dramatic play, on the other hand, has specific guidelines or prompts to get them started. Children are presented with a pre-determined scenario and then must make choices and discover solutions.

Both structured and unstructured dramatic play are important for your children’s emotional and social development. Maybe you remember dramatic play from your own childhood as “make-believe” or “playing house.” Whatever you want to call it, it’s an important opportunity for kids to act out scenarios from the real world and fictional lands alike.

6 Reasons why dramatic play for toddlers is important

Dramatic play is an integral part of a child’s social, emotional and cognitive development. Here are six important aspects of dramatic play:

1. Dramatic play teaches self-regulation

Toddlers and preschoolers are known for acting impulsively, but dramatic play is a positive steppingstone toward self-regulation. While they’re still figuring out what is or isn’t appropriate for a situation, children tend to be motivated to follow the “rules” of a pretend play scenario and learn to stick to their roles in a way that is acceptable to the group. This helps them grow in their ability to inhibit their impulses, coordinate with others and make plans.

2. Dramatic play gives children an emotional outlet

Dramatic play allows kids to act out scenarios they’ve seen or heard in real life, giving them an important emotional outlet as they explore new situations. “Young children do not yet think internally,” explains Barbara E. Harvey, executive director of Parents, Teachers and Advocates. “Children use dramatic play to explore their own thoughts and feelings.”

This is especially important for children who have seen something upsetting or scary in their daily lives. Dramatic play gives them an opportunity to sort through difficult emotions and “practice being in the world,” according to Jones.

3. Dramatic play teaches conflict resolution

Both unstructured and structured dramatic play offer plenty of opportunities for teachable moments about conflict resolution. Disagreements between children will inevitably crop up during unstructured dramatic play, which offers a chance for kids to work through their differences and arrange a compromise.

Dramatic play encourages children to resolve conflict, consider perspectives beyond their own and recognize the various roles and responsibilities individuals have in our society. Structured dramatic play often encourages children to consider a specific problem and propose their own solutions.

4. Dramatic play supports literacy

Dramatic play provides a prime opportunity for kids to improve their literacy skills. They can be exposed to “functional print” (like newspapers, signs or menus) in a play setting, which can help contextualize words and concepts. Additionally, with some light guidance, vocabularies can be expanded. Questions like, “What foods should we serve?” and “What tools will we need?” to the kids playing restaurant can provide an easy opening for introducing new words and concepts.

Dramatic play can also increase reading comprehension. Kids often choose to act out scenes from a favorite storybook. This gives them a deeper understanding of the narrative structure and character motivations found in familiar stories.

5. It develops creative thinking and storytelling ability

The question “So what happens next?” is a given during any dramatic play scenario, and your little ones certainly benefit from filling in the narrative gaps. The twists and turns of a pretend trip to a grocery store can be pretty wild when left in the hands of a toddler (watch out for the humongous dinosaurs tearing up aisle two), but these uncommon scenarios and ideas are still an excellent way to get their gears turning as they figure out how to proceed.

6. Dramatic play allows you to support your kids and encourage their ideas

Like we said above, kids process their inner thoughts and emotions externally through dramatic play. That means you can learn a lot about what makes your kids happy, scared or frustrated just by observing their pretend play.

The next time you see your kids acting as pirates, firefighters or chefs, pay attention. This is your chance to foster ideas and work through different emotions and social concepts.

“Asking ‘How do you know?’ or ‘Why do you think?’ kinds of questions are great for inspiring further thinking and extending the learning,” says Dr. Debbie Bergeron, deputy director for community engagement and innovation at the National Head Start Association®.

Pretend play ideas: How can you encourage dramatic play?

Now you know dramatic play is important, but how can you incorporate it into everyday life? The answer is easier than you might think. Kids naturally gravitate toward dramatic play, so they only need a little encouragement from you before they’ll be off and running.

There are a few tried-and-true ways to encourage dramatic and pretend play.

1. Have a prop box and costumes

It doesn’t take a lot to provide a spark. Starting a dress-up box filled with scarves, hats and other clothing items for costumes is a simple step that can capture their attention. It can also help to include themed toys or props (like a kitchen playset) at their disposal. Remember, you don’t need to go overboard—cardboard boxes and pillows can still provide a solid starting point.

“Use everyday items to create a fantasy world for your child,” says Joanne Cazeau, pediatric speech-language pathologist at Koze Speech Therapy. “Large crates and used shipping boxes make great race cars and homes. Old blankets and pillows make excellent forts.”

2. Having a dedicated space for pretend play

While it’s not necessarily a requirement, it can certainly help to have a dedicated space set aside in your home or childcare center. With the right props and equipment, you can give kids a somewhat contained space that sparks dramatic play ideas.

“[Ideally] the area has multiple possibilities. It can be transformed into a supermarket, an airport, a doctor’s office, a fire station, etc.,” says Yvette Estrella, an education specialist at PS Family NYC®. “Such settings can reflect the children’s community and help them better understand the world around them.”

3. Intentionally having free time set aside for play

It might seem a little counterintuitive, but there’s value in leaving “unscheduled” space in the day for kids. Sometimes the absence of planned activities is the perfect catalyst as children will often naturally fill the time with unstructured dramatic play.

“Parents and caregivers can engage with their children during unstructured play, but they should be open to following their child’s lead,” says Sally Macaluso, special education preschool teacher and blogger at Tenderhearted Teacher. “A parent or caregiver can encourage pretend play by providing their child with the time and space to explore. ”

4. Provide scenarios and model behavior

For structured dramatic play, it can help to provide scenarios to get the ball rolling.

“After transforming the dramatic play area, I would introduce the ‘new’ space. For instance, if the area was transformed into a supermarket, we’ll start with asking the children questions to see their prior knowledge of supermarkets,” says Estrella. “We’d then show them the new materials and supplies and explain to them how each item is used, such as the cash register or the food baskets.”

During this time, you’ll still want to maintain a light touch and let the kids take the scenario where they want.

“Let the children’s imagination go so they can grow,” says Estrella. “Parents and educators should let their children explore safely without judgment or criticism.”

Ready, set, PLAY!

Now that you know more about what dramatic play is, why it matters and how to encourage it, you’re in a great position to continue supporting child development through play.

If you love supporting your kids in their dramatic play adventures, you might be destined to help other kids in a career as an educator! If you’re seriously considering a career in early education, check out our article “Why Become a Teacher?” Preschool Educators Share What They Love About Their Work” to hear more from educators in the field.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2015 and has since been updated. Insight from Jones and Harvey remains from the original publication date.

National Head Start Association is a registered trademark of National Head Start Association Corporation.
PS Family NYC is a registered trademark of Program Support LLC.

Role of play-dramatization in the development of preschool children | Article (middle group):

The role of dramatization in the development of speech in preschool children

According to many domestic researchers (L.S. Vygodsky, A.N. Leontiev, S. A. Rubinshtein, D.P. Elkonin) the game is "the leading activity of preschool children in which the most important changes occur in the child's psyche, within which mental processes develop that prepare the child's transition to a new higher stage of his development." The game is used by teachers for the purpose of teaching and educating children. It is the development of the child's personality, speech, mental processes, moral qualities.

A special place in the development of speech in preschool children is played by dramatization, which is a unique tool, since in the process of such a game the sound culture of speech and its intonational structure develop.

In the works of domestic psychologists and teachers, dramatization or theatrical play is considered as an activity that plays an important role in the development of preschoolers and is a kind of creative play.

Dramatization game is a kind of theatrical game and is widely used in the process of education and comprehensive development of children, is the process of formation and development of the personal qualities of each child, his intellect, emotions, creative abilities.

L.S. Vygotsky considers dramatization as the most common type of children's creativity, since the dramatic form of reflecting life impressions is inherent in the nature of children. Theatrical play in psychological, pedagogical and cultural studies is understood, on the one hand, as a type of activity, and on the other, as a means of development. Researchers M.A. Vasilyeva, S.A. Kozlova, D.B. Elkonin believe that theatrical games are close to art, so they are called "creative games".

In pedagogical literature, special attention is paid to the game-dramatization, as a means of developing children, through which the creative abilities of the child are revealed, there is a positive effect on the sound culture of speech and its intonational structure.

In the process of dramatization, speech develops, which is a necessary condition for the child's adaptation in society. In games of a dramatic type, children develop arbitrariness, special sensitivity and attention to the actions of people in life, the ability to see and understand the meaning of the simplest actions of a person, his feelings, relationships with people, nature.

Many scientists (S.I. Merzlyakova, L.G. Milanovich, N.F. Sorokina) believe that the game-dramatization is universal in nature, since it contributes to the development of motor, cognitive and emotional spheres, as well as the socialization of children.

In his study of theatrical play, L.V. Artemov, refers to the opinion of L.S. Vygotsky, who says that a theatrical game is an unusually emotionally rich activity in which children allow adult guidance without noticing it, since the desire to play a fairy tale is enormous, a fairy tale brings joy and surprise. "theater" - these words indicate the relationship of theatrical games with the theater. Theater is a comprehensive activity that combines the word, image, music, dance. It has a special cognitive moment, characteristic only for it, its own reflection of the world, unlike other types of art. (K.S. Stanislavsky)

In a number of studies, the content component of theatrical games is considered as the possibility of creating different scenarios: improvisation, short scenes, dramatizations of a literary text. (O.A. Akulova, E.E. Kravtsova)

Participating in the game-dramatization, children get acquainted with the world around them through images, colors, sounds, through the questions posed, they learn to think, analyze, draw conclusions and generalizations. The development of speech is closely related to mental development. In the course of work on the expressiveness of the characters' replicas, their own statements, the child's vocabulary is enriched, the sound culture of speech and its intonational structure are improved. The spoken remarks and the role played put the child in front of the need to express himself clearly and clearly.

Dramatization is based on the actions of the performer, who can use finger puppets and bibabo puppets, which is consistent with the definition: “to dramatize means to act out any literary work in persons, maintaining the sequence of the episodes told in it and conveying the characters' characters”. The child uses all means of expression: facial expressions, intonation, pantomime. It is important that in the game the kid transforms into a character, controls his actions. During such games, intensive development of speech occurs, imagination develops, vocabulary is enriched, and the creative abilities of the child are revealed. All this is reflected in the further development of the child, and in the future on his educational activities. Therefore, dramatization games are necessary and useful for the child at all stages of his development.

Such games are loved by children, because by participating in them, children get acquainted with the world around them through images, sounds, colors. The great and versatile influence of play-dramatization on the personality of the child makes it possible to use them as a strong and at the same time unobtrusive pedagogical tool.

The purpose of dramatization game is to emancipate each child involved in it, and the main task is to develop intonation and mimic expressiveness in children. Dramatization can manifest itself in a variety of forms: as improvisation and composing scenes based on the content of a fairy tale, its staging and theatrical production of a fairy tale.

References

Artemova L.V. Theatrical games for preschoolers [Text]. - M .: "Enlightenment", 1991. - 127p.
Alibaeva F.I., Baryaeva L.B. Theatrical games in correctional and developmental work with preschoolers: Methodological guide [Text] / Ed. L.B. Baryaeva - St. Petersburg, 2007. - 256 p.
Vechkanova I.G. Theatrical games in the habilitation of preschoolers [Text] - St. Petersburg, 2006.
Vvedenskaya L.A., Culture of speech. – Rostov n / a: Phoenix, 2001 -448s.

Drama games for preschoolers | Preschool education

Author: Tomilova Olga Viktorovna

Organization: GBDOU DS No. 67 comb. type of Vyborgsky district of St. Petersburg

Settlement: St. Petersburg

Dramatic play is a spontaneous amateur activity during which the child tests, clarifies and expands knowledge about the world and about himself. As they play, children reenact places and scenes they have seen in life, imitate the actions of family members, and assume the roles of various people they have met. They reproduce the world that they understand, or one that brings confusion and fear into their minds.

From early childhood, children imitate the sounds they hear and the actions they see. While enjoying pretend activities, children react to new situations with movement and voice. That's how they play. This game, if supported, develops into dramatization: an art form, a socializing activity and a way of mastering reality.

Creative dramatization and play, especially in young children, cannot be isolated or limited to a certain place and time. In a group, at home or in a public place, creative dramatization and play help the child develop responsibility, develop new interests and, especially in a group, absorb new knowledge.

Dramatization is one of the most personal and individual ways of learning. In creative dramatization, there are no performers who memorize roles and use accessories and costumes to influence the audience. In such creative activities, children spontaneously invent, act out and interpret familiar situations and themes for themselves. For example, they act out situations based on real or imaginary roles that they have come into contact with in life, such as going to the zoo. In dramatic play, children create their own world in which they master the real world. In this imaginary world, they try to solve real life problems. They repeat, play again, and relive their experiences. In this way, dramatic play helps the child develop from a purely egocentric being into a person who is able to interact with others.

Developmental Influence

In dramatic play, children often spontaneously assume the role or actions of someone else (pretend to put out a fire like firefighters), use objects in a substitution function (sit on a building block, pretend to ride on a truck through the streets) and play out familiar situations (going to the market or grocery store). For a rich and meaningful preschooler, this is the ideal arena for emotionally rich and meaningful learning. Dramatic play develops the child in every way. If the educator correctly organizes the activities of children, they will receive a versatile (mental and motor) experience that is adequate to their individual characteristics.

In creative dramatization and play, a preschooler performs actions that:

1) contribute to the development of the five senses;

2) develop active and passive speech;

3) help children understand human relationships and learn patterns of behavior;

4) link ideas to each other;

5) stimulate creative thought and problem solving;

6) increase self-respect;

7) develop ways of expressing emotions and feelings;

8) develop fine and general motor skills;

9) signify the joy and freedom of childhood.

While playing, children learn to concentrate, exercise their imagination, try out new ideas, practice adult behaviors, and gain a sense that they influence the world around them. In addition, children gain a growing understanding of the beauty, rhythm, and organization of their environment and their own bodies as they learn ways to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and emotions to others.

Social development

The role-playing game almost always involves the participation of several children, so it is the most important factor in the social development of the child. The game often includes elements of joint planning and cooperation. Children may argue and get upset, but they get used to dealing with the interests of others. At the same time, they begin to understand that it is interesting and pleasant to play and study with peers.

Emotional development

Children bring to play what they know about life: their knowledge and delusions, their wishes and fears.

Play reflects children's understanding of social roles and relationships. Children can also act out events they have experienced or heard about. They may act out a frightening event, such as an accident they witnessed, to help deal with difficult emotions. They may also replay pleasant events to re-experience the pleasure.

In role-play, children can dress up and become whoever they want to be. Children depict people and events not only as they would like to see them, thereby expressing their desires or fears. The game gives the child the opportunity to express negative feelings that the child cannot yet put into words.

In play, children act out life experiences by selecting and organizing roles and events in accordance with the desire to maintain emotional well-being. Through play, children increase their understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, their attachments and dislikes, their ability to lead and persuade or obey. All this contributes to the development of self-awareness.

Intellectual Development

Through dramatic play, children develop cognitive skills by learning to relate to each other, to understand patterns of behavior and to organize information. They try ideas and learn from trial and error, they plan and execute plans, and form a vision of the past, present, and future. Children use memory to reconstruct people and events.