You can be surprised by how creative children can be. Their imagination and creativity can run wild. Setting up a pretend play corner in your kindergarten can be a great space for them to show off their imagination. They can pretend to be anyone and do anything.
A pretend play corner maybe just a place for them to play. But you may have gotten it wrong. Through pretend play, it helps to promote high-level thinking, problem-solving, and turn-taking in children. Besides, it can help children to learn more vocabulary. It may even develop skills such as math, science, literacy, gross motor, social skills, and many more through pretend play.
There are many things you can do in a pretend play corner. But what is the consideration you should consider when you are setting up one? Let’s discuss more in this article and find out how we can help to promote children’s imagination.
1. Create A Space For Your Kindergarten Pretend Play Corner
The most important thing, of course, will be allocating a corner for your pretend play corner. When allocating the space, think about how much space you need, and assess if it is the best place for pretend play, as there may be many things you want to put in it.
A pretend play corner is considered an active area. Besides the size of the space that you need to consider, you will want to keep the area away from your reading area or other quiet spaces you have created.
Not all kids love to play pretend, and they may need “Me” time after the play. So make sure you create a space where it won’t disturb others that need to rest or other activities that are going on.
2. Select The Theme For Your Kindergarten Pretend Play Corner
You can use many themes for your pretend play corners, such as the kitchen, zoo, library, doctors, and many more. Children can get bored with the theme easily if you use the same one for the whole year, so you will need to set a few themes you want to use for the pretend play corner.
Depending on how long you want to use the pretend play corner, you can decide how many themes you must prepare. Certain kindergarten may use it twice a month, while others may use it once a week.
You can change the theme every month or a period of time that you think is necessary. You can use the same theme for a longer time according to your needs. But make sure to prepare a few themes, and you can recycle the ideas so the children wouldn’t get bored playing the same theme every time.
3. Add Props To Your Kindergarten Pretend Play Corner
When you have decided on the theme, you can get your props. You don’t have to get all the props at once. Instead, you can add in slowly. It can give you time to observe what the children are trying to pretend.
Don’t worry about bare shelves in your pretend play corner, especially when you have just set up. Children’s imagination can be out of your expectation. Things that are around them can be something creative to them.
You may first add some kitchen items, such as jugs, cups, etc. Observe them as they play. You can add some pans or cooking recipes if you realize they are cooking. Some of them are interested in vets, so consider getting some doctor robes or animals for them to role-play. Add as you observe, but don’t overdo it, or your corner will be a mess.
4. Create A Pint Rich Space in Your Kindergarten Pretend Play Corner
Creating a pint-rich space allows children to learn more vocabulary as they play. It will be much faster than you think. Consider labeling the storage or adding books or other props that encourage children to pick up vocabulary and writing.
Print-rich materials can be put into your pretend play corner, including cookbooks, menus, order forms, labels, receipts, maps, tickets, brochures, and many more. But ensure that you get materials that can relate to your themes or pick up the children’s interest.
Things like non-fiction books, posters of people, and images of jobs that people are doing can be great teaching material. Children learn what jobs are or what people look like in professional jobs, such as policemen and firefighters.
5. Rotating And Storing Materials For Your Pretending Play Area
With so many props for your pretend play corner, you need storage to keep the props for rotating and storing purposes. Label the shelves or containers where you keep the materials, and you can teach the children to keep them after they have finished or when you intend to change to a new theme.
Store the materials in containers, as it will be easier for young children to access them. Take a less is more, and limit the items you put in the corner. Only add items if you realize that the children need them.
There are many options to store your things. Read our article on classroom storage options on the options you can get to organize your area.
Conclusion
The theme for your pretend play corner doesn’t need to be complicated. You can add props that can be used daily and let children learn about everyday life in a pretend play corner. Let their imagination run wild in a safe corner, and pick up some social skills as they play.
Besides, it also allows them to learn about the world they are living in by role-playing. What’s more than allowing the children to play and learn at the same time? It will be more enjoyable.
Speak with The Experts
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