Promoting language through dramatic play

After reading the post about planning the learning environment to promote language, literacy and communication someone sent me a very useful list of ideas for role-play resources and props that should help to stimulate language skills during dramatic play. The list is taken from a publication called ‘Promoting Language through Dramatic Play’ by Pat Davies of the Early Childhood Unit, Children in Wales. I thought I’d share it with my readers as I’m sure it will be very useful for you when planning your learning environment.

I’ve added a few extras to the list, please feel free to make further suggestions by leaving a comment below. I’ve also put relevant links to resources on our site and on our sister site poster-play.co.uk.

Shop

Name of the shop, Receipt book / receipts, Price tickets, Phone book, Special offer posters / board, Sale poster / tickets, Credit card slip, payment methods poster, boxes, bottles, labels, Opening hours announcement, Till, Money, Carriers / paper, bags, Signs – way  in / out, Bills, Cheque book, Message pad, Posters / Advertisements, Order forms, Computer, Cheque Slips, Price list for certain items, Tick list for stock, Weighing scales, Signs for different departments, Message board, open and closed signs, labes with barcodes.

Sweet Shop / Newsagents

As above with: Pretend sweets and labels / crisp packets, imaginary sweets – names and descriptions. Newspapers, magazines, comics, files, diaries, greeting cards, pens etc, price list, papers delivery bag.

Travel Agents

Travel brochures, timetables, maps / routes, globe, travel posters – different countries, telephone, comfy chairs, till, holiday insurance information, health information for different countries, special offers, tickets, flight plans, booking forms, computer, desk, pad and pencil / pen

Leisure Centre

Appointments book, courses lists, price list, warning signs (e.g. no smoking), shop selling equipment – prices etc, rota, posters for courses, direction signs, membership cards, lockers with names on.

Restaurant

Name of restaurant, booking system, writing, presenting menu, order pads, visitors book, cheque book, credit cards and acceptance cards, phone book for telephone orders, staff list of roles, packets of food, book for reservations, menus, translations of menu e.g. Indian dishes, bill pad, complaints book,  seating plan of restaurant, stock list, books, credit card reader, tips jar.

Vets

Appointments, posters advising owners on illnesses to look out for, ordering equipment, clubs for animal owners, notice board for client use, notes on what’s wrong with the animals, letters to vet asking for an appointment, labels on drugs and equipment.

Hospital

Reception area, computer, note paper, filing cabinet, telephone / directory, desk for receptionist, magazines and newspapers, doctor’s equipment, name badges, cabinet with bandages, plasters etc, labelled, prescription pads, diary, files on patients, notice to patients, notice bard with surgery hours, doctors names, clock, signs (e.g. ‘no smoking’) in other languages, nurse’s equipment, clipboard for medical notes, get well cards.

Hairdressers

Name of hairdresser, Price list, newspapers, magazines, comics, till with money, book of telephone numbers of children in group, bottles labelled and displayed, hairdressing equipment, colours of hair dyes – to illustrate, cards for appointments, rota of who’s on duty, names of stylists, posters, pictures of hairstyles, telephone / book, types of treatment available.

Post Office

Post office sign, price list, telephone directory, pension / child benefit books, envelopes, rubber stamp, forms to fill in (e.g. car licence, passport etc, money, air mail stationary, scales / weights, posters (e.g. road tax, currency exchange, passport application, weigh your items here), phone messages, stamps (designed / collected by children), post box, cheque book and cards, parcels, list of postcodes.

Home Area

Tv, fishtank, fireplace, newspapers, magazines, books, comics, recipe book, shopping list, bills / receipts, tv programmes, cleaning / washing activities – labels on clothes, letters, postcards, posters, telephone message pad, home safety posters, story books, labels on packets, instructions, calendar

Farm

Brooms, Milk pails, overalls, boxes for tractors, lists of animals, ordering book, animal feed, farmer’s outfit, wellies, signs ‘Beware of the dog’ etc.

School / Classroom

Register and pens, chalkboard and chalks, story books, non-fiction, staff room notice, pigeon holes, coffee making equipment, computer, dinner register, stapler, sellotape, hole punch, sticky labels, paper clips, diary / calendar, files, ring-binders, magazines, photocopier

Filling Station

Petrol pump, petrol station sign, car wash sign, air and water pump, petrol price signs, books of car repairs, credit card slips, lists of accessories available, receipts, car hire information, newspapers, magazines, first aid on the road information, tyre pressure instructions and information, maps, credit card signs, labels on oil cans, variety of packages of accessories, sweet wrappers, car wash instructions

Garage

Garage sign, appointment book (for services), invoices, waiting room sign, office sign, posters (e.g. MOT and Service advert, new tyres advert), service books, brochures for new cars, cheque books for payment, telephone / message pad, signs / instructions, letters, labels for tool storage, danger sign.