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Role play is a fundamental part of children’s development. Whilst they are having fun dressing up and getting into character they are learning social skills, growing in confidence, self- esteem and self-expression. Role play is so important in a child’s early year’s development that many primary schools and nurseries have a dedicated role play area. This role play area filled with play kitchens, market stalls, garages and cars and a wide range of floor play toys provides an effective learning tool, encouraging children to become active in their own learning.
Role play for children is an effective way for them to make sense of the world around them. Setting up a doctor’s room, supermarket, police station or even a garage allow children to explore these real life contexts. It teaches children about the everyday world around them, helping them re-enact scenes and scenarios they may have experienced in their own lives.
They may decide to recall a memory of Mum paying for goods at a supermarket, or a time when they watched dad filling his car at the petrol station. It may be they remember having to take a trip to the doctors. By observing and discovering the world around them children learn the rights and wrongs of society. Whatever imaginary scene is acted out, by including their observations within their role play activities they reinforce in their own heads how to behave and interact with the world around them.
Imaginary play typically involves verbal communication. When children participate in dramatic types of play, they copy and practice the words they have heard others saying. This helps develop vocabulary and language skills but also encourages listening skills at the same time as they learn to listen to others in order to understand and follow the game.
Role Play covers a huge spectrum of toys. Role play panels and role play panel sets can help define an imaginary play area, inside which all manner of wonderful role play toys can await the children. But none are more popular than role play kitchens and role play shops.
Role Play Kitchens have long been a firm favourite with children of all ages. As they pretend to be mum or dad cooking in the kitchen with their toy hob, kitchen utensils, microwaves, dishwashers and plastic food they learn real life skills and scenarios.
Role Play Shops are another staple role play toy. Children love playing with pretend food, pretending to be shop assistants taking money and giving change or being a customer, holding a basket looking to buy the food for sale. Role Play Shops encourage interaction and communication between children and can help develop numerical skills as they take money and receive change.
Role play is an extremely social act as it provides inclusion for all children irrespective of ability or need. It provides an outlet for children’s imaginations to soar and provides a great way for children to learn at all ages!
Originally written 12 November 2015