“Drama Queen” and “Drama King” by Dana Smith Bader in OTR Blog
We know our children love to play, but often as parents, we do not understand the full importance of their play. This week we take a look at the dramatic and social play and how it benefits their development.
If you have a 16 year old at home, you are very familiar with the terms “Drama Queen” and “Drama King,” and my guess is that you do whatever you can to minimize their constant drama. In the early years, however, we celebrate drama. When children talk to each other, give voices to toys, play pretend (by going to the doctor, school, or restaurant, or by acting like they are cooking or cleaning at home), play with puppets, pretend to be animals in a jungle, role play characters in their favorite story, or imitate adults, they are participating in dramatic and social play, which is essential for their development.
A child’s pretend play in classrooms or at home is often considered fun and imaginative, but with limited educational value. The truth is, in the midst of creating a restaurant together, clomping around in grown-up shoes, or twirling around with friends in a fairytale land, children are learning to solve problems, coordinate, cooperate, and think flexibly. Moreover, they learn:
- How to communicate, negotiate, and take turns.
- New vocabulary and language skills.
- About their environment and the world around them.
- About their influence in the world and self-discipline.
- About roles, responsibilities, and relationships.
- How to care, be compassionate, display empathy, and express emotions.
- The relevance of symbols and how they are used to represent other things in life.
by Dana Smith Bader, Director, Over The Rainbow Nursery
