dramatic play

  • Valentine post office play

    Valentine’s Post Office Dramatic Play

    Monday I showed a cute little Valentine’s Day mailbox using my phone number and address free printable. Since you’ve got that adorable idea, I thought I’d also give some insight into what I love to add to my dramatic play center to create a Valentine’s post office. All links are affiliates! Any good post office needs stationary – and lots of options! Little ones really love to dress the part, it makes them feel much more “official.” My genius tip for post office play is to visit the flat rate shipping center at your local post office and grab a few different boxes and envelopes. These are free (until you…

  • Valentine mailbox printable

    Printable Valentine Mini Mailboxes

    It’s officially February! It feels like getting through January is really something to celebrate, so let’s get down to business and dive into Valentine’s Day. This is an easy little activity that uses one of my FREE printables and is absolutely perfect for leaving each other little messages. My favorite Valentine’s dramatic play center is a post office, heavy on the hearts and pink and red colored decor. Decorating and adding these little mailboxes makes it fun for children to deliver mail for each other. I used my phone number and address freebie for the printable mailbox template. This template is editable, so you can also add children’s real addresses…

  • Preschool Thanksgiving

    Thanksgiving Dramatic Play

    Thanksgiving can be a bit of a minefield to explore in the classroom. It’s really hard for preschoolers to understand the historical significance of the holiday – they can’t comprehend just how long ago the first Thanksgiving took place. It’s also a challenge to represent the holiday in a way that is culturally competent while also remaining developmentally appropriate. This is why I try to stick with two common themes related to Thanksgiving; Food and Family. Food is ideal for Thanksgiving-themed dramatic play. Here are three different ideas for this holiday: Family table – give children all of the materials that they might need to create beautiful Thanksgiving table scapes.…

  • last day of summer ice cream party

    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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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!

  • 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…

  • 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!

  • 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 –…