Pretend Play
Pretend Play
Pretend play also known as dramatic play, is an area of focus in every classroom here at Tesoro Preschool. Pretend play is an essential part of a child’s growth and development. Every month, each classroom has a different pretend play theme. One month your child may be pretending to make a world-famous pizza at Tesoro Pizza Parlor. The following month the pretend play theme may be selling groceries in our mini market or pretending to be a doctor at a doctor office.
Pretend play engages every part of a child’s developing brain. During pretend play, children are not only having a blast but so many skills are being developed through this form of play. Children are developing their cognitive abilities by “walking in someone else’s shoes” when pretending to be a grocery store cashier. Creativity brings out a child’s imagination. It provides an avenue for them to think outside the box and create a story through play. In addition, children develop social and emotional skills through turn-taking, role play, sharing and compromising when building on each other’s ideas.
Language and math skills also expand through pretend play. For example, imagine a child re-enacting a scenario they experienced at the grocery store or at the local donut shop and repeating a phrase they heard. Oftentimes, these scenarios involve the use of numbers by counting items being purchased and pretend money at the register. Pretend play is an avenue to learn and reinforce math concepts. Reinforcement of language and math is constantly occurring without children realizing. Imagine a bakery shop in the classroom and a child orders “three donuts with a side a coffee” and the other child has to count the three donuts. So much learning occurs before our very eyes!
Other pretend play themes that your child will be exposed to include, but are not limited to: veterinary office, doctor office, post office, barber/beauty shop, home kitchen area, ice cream shop, farmers market, multi-cultural themed pretend play and many more themes!
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