Dramatic and Symbolic Play: Role Play in Early Years

This assignment analyzes dramatic and symbolic play in early childhood education, focusing on the differences between dramatic and symbolic play, as well as the materials used to facilitate these types of play. The student examines the use of open-ended materials versus prefabricated props, highlighting the benefits of open-ended materials in fostering imagination, problem-solving skills, and creativity. The assignment also analyzes a video example of role-play in early years, specifically focusing on a garage-themed play scenario. The student discusses the role of educators in managing and facilitating role-play activities, the importance of allowing children to lead and direct their play, and the benefits of observing children's learning processes. The assignment concludes by reflecting on the student's learning and how they will apply these concepts in future classroom settings, including creating new themes and observing children's work. References to supporting materials are included.

Running head: DRAMATIC AND SYMBOLIC PLAY
DRAMATIC AND SYMBOLIC PLAY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

2DRAMATIC AND SYMBOLIC PLAY
Response to Question No. 1:
The dramatic play has been defined as the play where little kids are acquainted with a
different set of roles and they disguise themselves in those roles and act accordingly. In this way,
they get out of this real-world and pretend themselves as someone else and dramatize certain
situations and they chose to act according to their selected play. To contrast, the symbolic play
has been defined as the children utilizes various types of objects and through their respective
actions, they tend to represent different role-plays and actions. In this type of play, mainly
children tend to use natural objects that symbolize different activities. Therefore, in the video
‘Symbolic Play for Early Childhood,’ the educator has magnificently explained about the
significant difference between open-ended material and prefabricated props. The educator has
critically explained with some random and natural objects that are used by the children
(Wordpress.com, 2020). Open-ended materials are referred to those materials that has no
directions and can be utilized multiple ways such as blocks, play sets, Legos, costumes,
cardboard boxes and stuffed animals. On the other hand, prefabricated props is referred to as the
tools such as images, text-making, and photographs that helps the children in communicating
with their individual learning processes and other activities (Earlychildhoodnews.com, 2020).
In this way, it will help in the Early Learning and Child Care environment by utilizing
open-end materials, which will benefit the children in encouraging their individual imagination,
problem-solving skills and creativity (Wordpress.com, 2020). It will aid them in building up their
individual ideas by testing their thoughts through certain activities.

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Open-ended materials and natural objects should be added to the centre of symbolic play
so that it will help the children to establish ideas and thoughts on nature. It will benefit in their
learning processes.

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Response to Question No. 2:
Early Years: Role Play- Managing and Changing is an essential video where educators
engage their students in role-play activities. Students are actively arranged in the role play, where
Garage play is the theme for allowing the children to organize a set-up by utilizing junk materials
and recycled cardboard boxes. In this theme, they have their separate roles and are self-directed
and self-organized to their own work through lifting cars and acting with their peer group in their
made-up garage. In this way, educators get the chance to observe the children regarding how
well they are performing, managing, and organizing their work. They help them in writing up the
essential parts in building the set-up of the garage (Youtube.com, 2020). The educators gave the
children a chance to get a look at a real garage and thus, it will benefit them in mind mapping
and creating the exact replica from the original garage.
The educators did not interfere in their role-play, and as being the adults, they planned to
play a part in the theme play and let the children lead the role play. In this way, they will
understand how much they have learned and what they were thinking at that particular time.
They never dominated the children and allowed the children to direct, instruct, and lead them in
the role play. They helped them to manage the work, but mainly, they were sitting and observing
the students adequately (Youtube.com, 2020). Therefore, educators got a chance to rectify their
misconceptions about the children and on their individual work. They even tried to engage them
in another new project related cab play, where firstly, they will have a ride in an original cab and
then, the children will organize a role play with the theme of cab driving. Thus educators, found
a new way to organize the children through their latest project and the children will never feel
bore while learning through such activities.

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In this way, I got to learn that engaging students is challenging, but it will allow them to
learn adequately with proper guidance and in a self-organized way. Thus, I will successfully
create a new theme like maintaining natural things in a park. I will observe their work and would
love to work under their particular instructions.

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References
Earlychildhoodnews.com. (2020). Earlychildhood NEWS - Article Reading Center.
Earlychildhoodnews.com. Retrieved 27 March 2020, from
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=751.
Wordpress.com. (2020). The Importance of Dramatic Play: Why it Shouldn’t be Taken for
Granted. Technology Rich Inquiry Based Research. Retrieved 27 March 2020, from
https://tecribresearch.wordpress.com/2018/06/09/the-importance-of-dramatic-play-why-
it-shouldnt-be-taken-for-granted/.
Youtube.com. (2020). Early Years - Role Play - Managing and Changing. www.youtube.com.
Retrieved 27 March 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVU-MQ-Ps-U.
Youtube.com. (2020). Symbolic Play for Early Childhood. www.youtube.com. Retrieved 27
March 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3F1iWHkHnQ.