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Dear Families,

There is so much your child can learn from dramatic play both at school and at home. We can work together as partners to provide your child with dramatic play opportunities that will benefit their overall development.

Dramatic play can include pretend or make-believe play as well as fantasy and imaginative play. Dramatic play experiences give children a chance to interact in creative, open-ended, and collaborative work. Social skills are at the center of dramatic play. Cultural awareness is as well. Children practice turn-taking, negotiation, collaboration, and sharing of ideas, backgrounds, and experiences within this play.

Dramatic play at preschool

Your child has access to dramatic play experiences every day at school. These range from role-playing to make-believe. These activities can include real props such as wallets and can also include any object that the child uses to pretend with, such as using a small box or envelope as a wallet. The props and costumes that we provide are available to all of the children. They can include dresses, hats, ties, shoes, etc. Both boys and girls are encouraged to take on different roles even if it is not the same as their true gender. It is OK for preschool children to do this, as they are trying out different roles of people they admire, including you. The preschool classroom provides a safe place for them to try out these roles.

Dramatic play at home

Dramatic play experiences can happen at home just as they do in the classroom. You can provide props for your child and you can play with them. These props can be real, such as a construction hat, or they can be recycled materials, such as boxes or old clothes. You can play along with your child and use phrases like we do in the classroom to encourage your child to imagine. For example, you can say, “Are you the postal worker in this area? I need to mail this letter.” This encourages your child to create a play scenario with you. Pretending can happen anytime with little to no preparation needed because your imagination is always with you. Dramatic play can happen during meals, bath time, while cooking, and at many other times. It gives you a chance to spend time with your child while helping them learn and grow.

Please let us know what questions you have about dramatic play experiences. Together we can provide your child with dramatic play opportunities that will benefit their creativity and overall development!