CHILD-INITIATED
Encourage the children to use small world and role play resources as part of related, child-initiated activities.
Resources
Family dolls such as Playmobil and Lego (most are available with some ethnic variations), doll's houses, home corner space and props, leaflets and photographs from estate agents.
Play suggestions
* Make sure that small world and role play have status and credibility in your learning environment. Plan for them, and monitor how they are used. Ensure that all children are encouraged to use small-world resources and participate in role play, and allow sufficient time for purposeful, sustained play.
Provide boxes (such as shoe boxes or washing powder tablet boxes) that can become 'home' spaces as well as storage.
* Create an estate agent's office, with leaflets and photos, telephones, notebooks and writing materials.
Possible learning outcomes
* Observes others engaging in the activity
* Engages in parallel play alongside others using the resources
* Talks to self while playing
* Engages others in conversation while playing, describing their actions. etc * Begins to collaborate with others
* Develops story lines
* Sustains role for lengthy periods or returns to the 'plot' at a later stage
* Uses literacy and numeracy skills in their play
* Refers to personal experience
* Mimics adult behaviour and language
* Explores aspects of their domestic, social or emotional experience, for example, being a parent reprimanding bad behaviour, arguing, caring for others.