1. Bakery
Children can bake and sell goodies at their very own Cookie Shop. Our favorite part of this center was the simple bookshelf that we transformed into a double oven! Click on the picture below to see all of the photos.
We transformed 3 trifold science boards into a straw house, a stick house and a brick house for an adorable version of the Three Little Pigs. Preschoolers who can memorize and act out stories will have great comprehension skills when they get to school. We also love to act out Goldilocks and the Three Billy Goats Gruff. Click on the picture to see our entire production.
Chocolate and mint ice cream with cherries on top... coming right up! Preschoolers love to scoop and sell this summer treat to their friends. Click the photo to see how we set it up.
We ask our preschoolers to save and bring in all of their empty recycling containers, then we use them to set up a "Shop Smart" grocery store. It's one of their favorites. Click on the photo below for simple step-by-step directions.
This classic dramatic play center is another one of our favorites. We like to set up a hospital with a triage cot, doctor costumes and lots of props. No explanation is needed! This is one of the centers (like the grocery store and the restaurant) that the children are usually very familiar with. They love it when we call them "Doctor"! Click on the photo for more pictures of the set-up.
Can we take your order? The restaurant dramatic play center is chock full of opportunities to practice reading, writing and teamwork. Click on the picture to see the menu and ordering forms that we like to use.
We put on our paleontology hats and look for dinosaur bones and footprints at this dramatic play dig site. Click on the picture to see how we used a simple ingredient from the craft store to turn our sensory table into an excavation site.
Preschoolers love to pretend to take care of babies, and it such an important lesson on how to be caring, gentle and loving. The best part is, most of the supplies are probably in your play room at home.
This dramatic play scenario is a little more complex than the others, but it is hands-down their favorite one. The Airport is the center that my students come back years later and ask about. It's the one that my own school-aged kids will play with for hours on end. It is a blast! Click HERE and HERE for more pictures.
If you're looking for a quick set-up, cheap center, this is it! We got all the supplies from the dollar store and added water. It's great for summer, too. Take those kids outside and put them to work!
Ok, I know that the top says "10 Fun & Creative Ideas" and this is #11. I have a serious quirk about prime numbers, so we're just going to consider this to be a bonus idea. That's not weird, right? Okey dokey.
Setting up a flower shop is the perfect dramatic play scenario for spring, Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. The preschoolers count and add flowers in their bouquets and practice tying bows (or knots!) with ribbon. Click the picture to see how we set it up in our classroom.
Be sure to follow my Dramatic Play Pinterest board for even more great ideas.
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