NINE DIFFERENT KINDS OF ACTIVITIES INVOLVING MUSIC-Part 4
4. Dramatic Play Activities help children express themselves, practice life skills, improve social skills, increase self-esteem, build vocabulary and solve problems. Dramatic play is also a whole lot of fun! Other benefits of play in the classroom include: Physical: increase in strength, overall fitness, motor skill development, health; Cognitive: increase in skills such as problem solving, creative thinking, planning, organizing, language, and overall academic success; Social and Emotional: enhanced development of cooperation, sharing, turn taking, increase in social values and self esteem and practice of appropriate social roles.
Goals/Skills found in dramatic play:
-The child understands and experiences the adult world through imitation
-The child learns to express feelings and emotions
-The teacher assists the child in better understanding of their world
-The child experiences “a sense of power” by imitating grown-ups
-The child develops creativity and imagination
-The experiences and sees different kinds of roles in life
-The child improvises and understands abstract thinking of their level
Examples of activities:
Picture Foods. Sort through your old magazines or newspapers and cut out pictures of foods to put onto paper plates to encourage imaginary. Sing “I found a ….!”
Mirror Dancing. Singing and dancing in front of the mirror
Other suggestions for Creating Dramatic Play for the classroom:
- Build around themes
- Collect inexpensive play materials
- Designate a specific play area in the classroom
- Allow adequate time for play experiences
- Encourage children to be creative with play themes
- Add literacy/print experiences to every play
- Add items to promote character development and behaviors
Part 5 next week