Dramatic Play
Dramatic play, also referred to as imaginative play, is such an important type of play for your little one! Before we get into why it’s important, let’s talk about what it is!
Dramatic play is the type of play in which children “try on” different roles through play. Whether they pretend to be a superhero, a waitress, a police officer, a parent, a nurse, doctor, etc., your children are emulating what they see in their everyday lives.
Dramatic play is beneficial in so many ways. It allows children to express themselves creatively, share their thoughts, develop and practice social skills, and identify feelings.
Some of our favorite ways to engage in imaginative play include:
Playing in the play kitchen. Your child can pretend to cook, serve, and feed pretend dolls or animals. Your child can also pretend to be a waiter or waitress at the kitchen by “taking an order” and delivering the food. This idea is great for slightly older children and a natural way to build in an opportunity to practice writing!
Grocery shopping! Tape up food boxes that would otherwise be recycled and create a mini store for your child to shop at. We love the little tikes grocery cart pictured above!
Driving! Draw a road with chalk outside. Have your child pretend to be driving places on a bike or ride on toy. We like to use cones as pretend stop signs!
These are just a few ideas! What does your child like to pretend? Tell us below in the comments!
Happy Playing!
