You may have heard of dramatic play before, but do you know what it is or why it matters for your kids? We have the scoop on what dramatic play entails, why it matters and how you can encourage this activity with your kids. There are two primary types of dramatic play: structured and unstructured. Unstructured dramatic play gives children the freedom to choose their own roles and play scenarios. Structured dramatic play, on the other hand, has specific guidelines or prompts to get them started. Children are presented with a pre-determined scenario and then must make choices and discover solutions.
Here are six important aspects of dramatic play:. Toddlers and preschoolers are known for acting impulsively, but dramatic play is a positive steppingstone toward self-regulation. This helps them grow in their ability to inhibit their impulses, coordinate with others and make plans.
Harvey , executive director of Parents, Teachers and Advocates. This is especially important for children who have seen something upsetting or scary in their daily lives. Both unstructured and structured dramatic play offer plenty of opportunities for teachable moments about conflict resolution. Disagreements between children will inevitably crop up during unstructured dramatic play, which offers a chance for kids to work through their differences and arrange a compromise. Dramatic play encourages children to resolve conflict, consider perspectives beyond their own and recognize the various roles and responsibilities individuals have in our society.
Structured dramatic play often encourages children to consider a specific problem and propose their own solutions. Dramatic play provides a prime opportunity for kids to improve their literacy skills. Additionally, with some light guidance, vocabularies can be expanded. Dramatic play can also increase reading comprehension.
Kids often choose to act out scenes from a favorite storybook. This gives them a deeper understanding of the narrative structure and character motivations found in familiar stories. The twists and turns of a pretend trip to a grocery store can be pretty wild when left in the hands of a toddler watch out for the humongous dinosaurs tearing up aisle two , but these uncommon scenarios and ideas are still an excellent way to get their gears turning as they figure out how to proceed.
