Home Hot Topics Articles About Us / Contact Us Activities & Curriculum Activities for Outcome-Based Learning Arts & Crafts Music for Learning Recommended Reading ECN Radio NEWSlink Topics In Early Childhood Education Art and Creativity in Early Childhood Education Teaching Peace with Elyse Ideas and Activities for Indoor and Outdoor Play The Reading Corner Teaching Children with Special Needs How to Get a School Grant Earlychildhood NEWS Blog Job Sharing Board State Licensing Requirements Subscribe today to our monthly newsletter!   ACTIVITY Family Play By Julie Joy Dramatic play is an important means of creative expression for toddlers and twos. In this activity they will imitate the adults around them, build social skills, and use their developing language. Curriculum Area Dramatic Play, Language and Social/Emotional Before You Start Make sure all dress up materials are safe. Look for small parts. Purses should not fit over the head and avoid high-heeled shoes. Only include ties or appropriate jewelry if you can closely supervise at all. Let's Begin 1. Let the children explore the materials. Younger toddlers will play with the objects while older toddlers may mimic adult behaviors they have seen. 2. Model some activities. Rock a baby or give it a bottle. See if any of the children imitate you. 3. As the children try on items describe what you see. Tell them "You have on big shoes like daddy!" or "That purse makes you look like Grandma." Watch as the children take on different roles, and create their own "family." 4. Be aware most toddlers will not interact together as much as they will play side by side, called parallel play. Furthermore Extend the play with a water table or dish tubs - let children give the babies a bath. Or drape a blanket between two chairs and create a cozy house for children.   Tweet Dolls, empty containers such as baby powder, wipes, bottles, etc. Small purses, shoes, dress up clothes, hats Blankets Fantasy Fabrics - 13 pieces Ladies Dress Up - 12 Pieces Career Hats - Set of 7 Hawaiian Coin Purses - Set of 12 Sand & Water Activity Tubs - Set of 4 Happy Tractor and Truck Set Toddler Manipulatives - 190 Pieces Kindermint Blanket Housekeeping Set - 12 Pieces Tender Touch Baby Dolls - Set of all 4 Dolls Bathing Dolls - Set Of 2 Articles and activities listed on this website may be printed for single use. No article or activity may be duplicated or distributed in any form, in whole or in part, without permission from the publisher, Excelligence Learning Corporation. Contact Permissions Department.

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