Introducing Your Child to the Arts: Dramatic Play for Children (continued)

Very young children naturally engage in dramatic play in nearly any setting. As Mom or Dad cook in the kitchen, a set of plastic measuring cups and a wooden spoon are sufficient for even a young toddler to pretend to join in. This simple imitation of life marks an early stage of dramatic play. For preschoolers and kindergartners, it is possible to encourage dramatic play by providing a special space. This could be a corner of a child’s room where toys are kept or a space in a family room or kitchen. Add to the possibilities by collecting “props,” everyday objects ready for dramatization. For instance, a scarf can become a shawl, a sash, or any number of things. Hats can denote different characters. Baskets, bags, and plastic dishes are all useful props.

Dramatic play need not be confined to one space; it is spontaneous, and the impulse to enact a character or imitate an action is rarely planned in advance. Chances are it will be brief and fragmentary, although as children grow older, the games become longer and more detailed. Favorite stories and activities are often repeated, but even with repetition, new ideas are constantly generated.

Build on the interests children express through dramatic play. For example, ask a child who has demonstrated an interest in dogs to be the dog expert. You can take your pretend dog to the “expert” to find out what to feed the dog, what games the dog might like to play, and more generally how to treat a dog. Let the child be the expert and offer personal perspectives learned from his or her newly acquired interest. It is important to remember that the child should be the center of the dramatic play.

Storytelling through dramatic play is also a favorite activity of young children. Begin by reading a wellknown children’s story. A simple story like Caps for Sale has great appeal for the young child and sets the stage for an informal theater experience.

Finally, enjoy these early experiences with your child. Remember that they are the child’s first engagement with this art form and can lead to lifelong pleasure. You are not necessarily encouraging a career in theater; you are helping the development of a human being through this most human of the arts, the theater.

More formal encounters with theater can be found in a variety of places. Think about planning a vacation to visit a place where “living history” is an integral element of the experience, such as Colonial Williamsburg.Historical sites established by the National Park Service often include theater-like elements. In some places, children may dress up in period costumes and play a part in historical scenarios. The professionals planning these experiences ensure success for the children by taking the lead.

There are many benefits associated with children going to the theater. Among them are:

• Appreciation of theater as an aesthetic experience, and increased awareness of social and cultural values.
• Sharing in a communal art form.
• Increased knowledge of history and human events. 

Theater for young audiences includes a wide range of subject matter: folk and fairy tales, contemporary social issues, adventure stories, and historical and biographical dramas. The form may be straight dramatic play,musical, documentary, or movement theater.

Here are some elements that parent and child can discuss after watching a production: