Learning about Learning Environments: Lights, Camera, Drama!

Playing dress-up is as eternal as the mighty cardboard box – a play time tradition that has been enjoyed by generations of children everywhere. It doesn’t take much to engage in dramatic play, with a simple fabric or interesting tool, children are immediately transported to a new place and time for hours of fun.  A common dramatic play set-up, in almost every classroom, is usually the heart of a home – the kitchen. Whether this is a table with a few pots, pans and dishes or an elaborate pre-made kitchen set, this type of dramatic play entices children to reenact their own lived experiences, cultural knowledge and naturally inclined tendencies to demonstrate empathy and care for one another.

However, dramatic play can also be expanded beyond the kitchen area by creating temporary experiences informed by concepts explored in the classroom. At Kindertown, our classrooms have been transformed into mechanic shops, jungles, hospitals, bakeries and veterinarians. In order to make these experiences possible, and foster the child’s imagination, our educators embrace their creative side to not only create an engaging learning environment, but to provide children the various learning opportunities that stem from dramatic play.  In a well-planned learning environment, children will not only develop their imaginations, but learn how to negotiate, share and take turns with one another. There are also numerous opportunities to incorporate concepts of literacy and numeracy in dramatic play by incorporating such things as currency, signage and menus into dramatic space.

Regardless of how you approach dramatic play – its important to remember that the key to any successful space is that the kids are having fun. Whether that’s with a large cardboard box or elaborate grocery store design, the key ingredients are always engagement and imagination.