Dramatic Play
Here's What To Do
1
Invite your child(ren) to play pretend with you. Decide what you'd like to play together. Some ideas:
- Use your kitchen table to play "restaurant." Have someone be the customer and someone be the server.
- Play "house" with baby dolls.
- Use a cardboard box as a boat, rocket ship, or airplane. Where will you travel to?
- (Or, whatever your child comes up with!)
2
Use household items to play pretend. If you'd like, you can make a "pretend box" and fill it with old clothes, shoes, and kitchen objects to use in play.
3
Encourage your child to take the lead in the dramatic play.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Take a deep breath together. Look into your child's eyes and smile.
E
Engage:
- "What would you like to play today?"
- "Who would you like to be? Who should your baby sister be? Who should I be?"
E
Encourage:
- Encourage your child's expression by going along with their ideas, even if the story they're pretending doesn't make much sense.
- If your child gets stuck, ask questions like:
- -"What would happen if…?"
- -"What would you like to do next?"
- -"Tell me about what you're doing?"
- -"What object can we find to help us in our play?"
R
Reflect:
- "What was your favorite part of our pretending?"
Not quite ready?
Some children might not be able to come up with ideas for pretend play. If an adult helps to set the scene, they should be able to join in.
Ready for more?
Help your child make simple props for pretend play out of paper (a restaurant menu, a sign at the zoo, etc.).
As your child masters this skill...
They will decide what they want to act out, assign roles, and participate in a pretend play scene that mimics real life.