ROLE PLAY IN EARLY YEARS SETTING

The Importance of Role Play In Early Years Setting

Introduction3

1.1Background3

1.2Objectives5

Literature Review5

2.1Theories of Symbolic Representation in Early Years5

2.2 Concept of Schema8

How Children Learn9

3.1 Role Play9

Findings11

Conclusion11

References13

The Importance of Role Play In Early Years Setting

“Children's ability to play is one of the principal criteria of mental health”

Introduction

Background

Role play plays a significant role in education of children. Role playing is referred to changing of behavior of an individual by assuming a role either consciously to act out an adopted role or unconsciously to fill a social role (Moyles, 2005). Role play in early years is a powerful way of developing social skills as this activity feeds imagination and encourage empathy in children. We already know that imagination is a powerful tool that is inborn in several children it only needs encouragement because in future this imagination can do wonders for children as well as society. Therefore, it is suggested that preschools should provide children with an opportunity to develop their imagination. In order to encourage children's imagination preschool need to equip children with scenarios, spaces, props, and support from them which will enable them to explore their imaginary worlds and real life. There are several different forms of role play that serve several purposes. According to Sociologist, there are three main types of role play played by children; however the play depends on their mood, social setting and age. Following are different forms of role play (Broadhead, 2004):

Domestic play

Under this type of play family and home are at the centre with foods to prepare and various jobs to do. These domestic situations can be new or familiar. We should aim for variety: some rooted in own experiences of children, some should encourage flights of imagination and fantasy such as a caravan, barbecue, country cottage, or a giant's place or house.

Transactional Play

Under this play children are taught to exchange services and goods for money. This type of play is highly fascinating and endless to children as they usually observed their adults doing transaction. These include clinic, garden centre, vets, travel agents, and green grocers (MacNaughton, 1998).

Imagined world This type of play include exploration of those place where stories dwell or places where children are unlikely to visit such as a jungle, moon, under the sea. This type of play provides children with a change to explore their imagination. Imaginative play help children develop their intellectual capability, and improve their creativity, and social skills (Bruce, 2006). Furthermore, it provides children with a chance to play out event that they have experienced or observed in real life.

These role plays can be played at places where children are unlikely to visit such as: under the sea or the mood and they can meet character that they are not likely to meet such as talking to a beer or dragon. Hungry tree is one of the good example of this type of role plays, it world well with young ...