Dramatic Play : Food Court

As you can see above, my children in school are so engaged as they pretend play in my Dramatic Corner. You see, I decorated my classroom last Friday in preparation for Term 4 which began today. I made learning centres which include this interest area which I named Admiralty Food Court. Of course I am so proud of my work. Why so? My children were so engaged. They even said: "so nice Ms. Luchie", when they entered my classroom.

Yes dearie, my children play in the classroom for they learn through play. So you want to know more information about dramatic play? Please read.

Very early in life children show us that they have an amazing ability to use their imaginations in "let’s pretend" play. Children often use objects as symbols from past experiences. For instance, a child may use a block of wood to represent a loaf of bread. When children pretend to be someone or something else we call their activities "dramatic play".

Watching children’s dramatic play as it develops through the early childhood years lets us see that it becomes more complicated, extensive and prolonged over time. Dramatic play provides opportunities to combine spoken language with imagination, to imitate, and to pretend to be someone or something else. It stimulates all areas of a child's growth and can in turn affect the child's success in school. Dramatic play has also been shown to enable children to be more flexible in new situations. Pretending allows children to transform real life, changing things from how they really are to how the child perceives them to be.

What children learn from daramatic play? Here they are:

1. As they play, the children learn about themselves, their families, and the world around them. They clarify their impressions of what they have seen or experienced.

2.Play helps children to think about the way others act, think, and feel. It enables them to "try on" a role, experience, or feeling and to reflect on experiences that have been important to them. Children can act out times that they have found upsetting or hard to understand and show their feelings safely. Children may use play in this way to express their feelings about a new baby, or a visit to the doctor. When adults can understand the messages children send through play we can be more helpful in providing information and help.

3.Dramatic play helps children develop problem solving skills

4. Through dramatic play children develop communication skills. When children ask other children to play they must use language. As the play develops, they practice talking with each other and listening to what others have to say.

5.Children learn cooperation! Dramatic play provides unlimited opportunities for children to interact with each other and to learn to get along with others and to feel good about working together.

6. Children use dramatic play to discover the role of humor in human relationships.

7.Dramatic play encourages children to organize, predict and develop planning skills.

8.When children get involved in dramatic play they show a remarkable ability to focus, concentrate and stay on task. Once they are involved in play, adults are often astounded at how long children will continue to cooperate and work together.

9. Children learn to think by using symbols when they are playing pretend. Learning to use symbols is what learning to read and write is all about.

10.Dramatic play allows children to learn about feelings and explore power.
(Source: betterkidcare by: J. Birckmayer)