dramatic play
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Last Day of Summer Party!
I’m happy with any excuse for a party! This one is a little bittersweet – so ice cream felt like the perfect theme. A “last day of summer” party is a great way to help children mark the end of one season and move into the school year with a positive attitude. This can also be a really powerful tool for the classroom. If you have students that have been with you all summer and they’ll continue to stay with you throughout the school year, this can help make that mindset change from summer to the school year. It’s also a great way to say goodbye to children who were…
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Amazing Deals on Dress Up!
I usually suggest waiting until after Halloween to grab clearance costumes for your dramatic play area, but this year I’m telling everyone I know to RUN to the Dollar Tree because they have some amazing costumes out already. You can’t beat dress up clothes and accessories for a dollar, and while I know that the quality may not be the best they’re all $1. Can I say it one more time ONE DOLLAR! Ok, I’m pretty sure that I’ve managed to convey my level of excitement, now let me show you a visual. I bought all of this for my own daughter – she’s getting a great big bag of…
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Felt Food
Years ago I made a set of felt food for my classroom. When I make something I have a tendency to go a little above and beyond, which means that this particular set of felt food was amazing, but took me FOREVER. Which is why I haven’t made any more, until now. I’m working on a set for my own daughter to play with so I thought it would be fun to share some of my inspiration with you. Here are some of my favorite DIY play food ideas: Sliced Cheese from Pieces by Polly Pasta from Fairy Fox Sugar Cookies from Cuddle Bear Baby Breakfast from Hanging on by…
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Pie Themed Dramatic Play
October, November, and December are by far the easiest months to plan dramatic play for. For example, one of my favorite November dramatic play themes is a pie bakery. Simply use your play kitchen or create an oven out of a large cardboard box, then include some of the following items: Aluminum pie pans Felt circles for pie crust Rolling pins Aprons A toy mixer Mixing bowls Pie servers Cookbooks and recipe cards Play fruit for filling I’ve also got some fun Thanksgiving theme math and language activities that you can use to round out your other centers as you prepare for the holiday!
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Autumn Dramatic Play Themes
I love autumn – pumpkins, sweaters, apple cider – it is my favorite season. There are so many fun things to do in the fall, and those activities translate to wonderful dramatic play themes. Here are some fun ideas to invigorate your dramatic play center. Leaf clean up: Inspire children to help rake the yard with this fun dramatic play center. Consider adding some of the following materials to inspire play: Rakes Gardening gloves Play leaves Leaf bags Apple orchard: Nothing says autumn quite like a trip to the orchard, it’s easy to create your very own orchard with some of these materials: Play apples (or real ones!) Bushel baskets…
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Dramatic Play Beach Props
While you may not be able to get to the beach this summer, you can definitely make your classroom feel a little more like the beach. Here are a list of props that you can collect for your dramatic play center to help create imaginative beach days: Beach towels Empty sunscreen bottles Sunglasses Beach umbrellas Sand toys Rafts and inflatable pool toys Beach balls Sun hats Flip flops Snorkel and flippers Your students can help you make a list of all of the things that they would need to take to the beach, they might come up with additional items that you had never even considered!
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Standards Related to Doll Play
I am all about dramatic play, but I struggle with making sure that my dramatic play centers are interesting and engaging. I like to change them up, but I don’t like to spend a ton of money or store a lot of stuff. On Monday I shared some of my favorite tips for adding authentic items to doll-themed dramatic play, but there are so many great ideas out there that it seemed a shame to stop with my own personal list. So here are some other doll ideas that I’ve rounded up. This cute diaper-changing/hygiene station Easy DIY Diapers Doll clothes storage This amazing cardboard cradle! Dry bath time –…
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Try a Baby Food Taste Test
On Monday I shared some of my favorite items to add to your doll-themed dramatic play center. If you really want to start a great conversation, why not try a baby food taste test?! This is a great way to get your preschoolers talking about the textures of different foods, and to compare and contrast the purees with the solid foods. While it hasn’t been all that long since most of your preschoolers were eating baby food regularly, they’ll never believe you when you tell them this. It’s a good idea to start with foods that they are going to be willing to try – fruits are generally a safe…
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Baby Doll Dramatic Play
When we get to the middle of winter, the last thing that I want to do is pull out the same dramatic play materials that we’ve been using all year. That means I have to get a little more resourceful to make my dramatic play centers interesting. Now you can definitely buy some amazing printables and supplies at the Dollar Tree to add to your dramatic play area, and I’ve done that too, but I’m talking about using what you’ve already got. Baby dolls were always popular in my classroom, and I tried not to keep them out all of the time so that it was special when they were…
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Friday Freebie – Editable Boarding Pass
Happy Friday! My travel posts all week have me itching to go somewhere, I might have to make a day trip this weekend! Here is an incredible freebie for your travel week – this super-high quality Boarding Pass from A First for Everything can be edited to reflect the destination, the name of the traveler, and the name of the airline. How fun is that?! Make sure to download yours and have a great weekend!
