The 6 Tips to Dramatic Play Outdoors

Motivate role play with intriguing themes: animals, houses, shops, traffic, and fairy tales are easily transferred to children’s lived experiences and easier to start talking about. A car-theme is understood by most ages and opens the possibility of imagining going out into a wider, unknown world. When supporting play, caregivers or parents can initiate the widening of the vocabulary: “Are you driving the car? Where are you going? Are you going to visit your grandparents?

Increase play duration by adding intriguing elements such as mirrors, bells and manipulative activities such as turning plates or auditive stimulation with music panels.

Increase play benefits by combining your themed setting with physical play activities - For instance: slides or climbing opportunities.

Increase play duration by adding space and opportunity for breaks – For instance: having a patio with seating in a play house, or table and benches inside it.

Increase the possible number of users by offering play equipment designs that have more access and exit points and feature activities that span both in and outside - For instance: tables that turn or funnels. When there is no rear side to a design, the children can play house, car, or other themes from the outside, too.

Increase the user age and ability span and accessibility by offering all of the above at ground level.