Kitchen Excitment

One of the busiest parts of our room is the play kitchen. 

 Our dramatic play area has been a flurry of activity with new items added this week. The class was excited to find a sushi bento box, tea set, a sandwich making station, and some general cooking supplies were added on Tuesday.

They have been busy creating recipes, running businesses, and cooking for families. They were acting out the world as they understand it, and rehearsing how they will be part of it as they age into new roles.

Cleaning up involves organizing items back into their sets, and even matching words together with the tea set.  More items will be added soon! We have a salad station and fresh fruits coming, along with boxes to organize the food groups. 

Dramatic play is a key part of learning in preschool. It may only "look like" play, but there is a lot of developing and work happening at the same time.

In our Dramatic Play Area, it looks like we are playing, but here is what we are working on to prepare us for future learning:

"21^st Century Skills":

·      Problem solving with peers

·      Collaborating/working together with peers

·      Critical thinking

·      Creative thinking

·      Initiative and self direction

·      Leadership roles

·      Responsibility

·      Productivity

·      Flexibility

Speaking and Listening Skills:

·      I can participate in a conversation.

·      I can follow rules for discussions.

·      I can talk with others.

·      I can tell what a story is about.

·      I can ask and answer a question about what I have heard.

·      I can share what I know.

·      I can tell about people, places and things.

·      I can use drawings to add details.

·      I can speak clearly.

Why is dramatic play important for young children?

·      Oral language development (spoken words to express knowledge, ideas, feelings, etc).  Oral language has a correlation with writing, reading comprehension, listening and speaking.

·      Authentic learning experiences (real life scenarios) that encourage and motivate children to write, read, and utilize foundational math skills all in "real life" ways (examples: using letter sounds to write labels and signs, counting and adding money to "purchase" items, etc.)

·      Exploration of different perspectives and roles as children at out their personal experiences and learn from others that are similar and different from their own.

·      Social skill development as children practice sharing, compromising, communicating, solving problems, and practice empathy.

·      Self-regulation development.  Research shows that through dramatic play, children are highly motivated to follow rules and stick to their roles in play.  While doing so, it is developing their ability to inhibit their impulses, collaborate with others and create plans.

·      Each child is being challenged to his/her ability in setting that is highly motivating

·      They are learning academic and social/emotional skills in a way that is natural and FUN for them...there is a purpose to their work!