Dramatic play

Dramatic play or in other words DRESS-UP...

So fill your dress-up box with lots of different clothes and props. You may need one bucket for each theme.

Themes:

HOUSE:

Kitchen: aprons, pot holders (see my crochet tutorial here), oven mitts, wash clothes (see my crochet tutorial here), cooking utensils, eating utensils, pots, pans, pitchers, empty cardboard boxes (cereal, crackers, rice, etc.), empty plastic containers (sour cream, cottage cheese, syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, milk jugs, etc.) and more. Make a stove, dishwasher, oven, microwave, fridge out of large cardboard boxes.

Gardening: gardening tools, kneeling pad, pots, fake flowers, and more. What do you wear when you garden? Do you have special shoes? Clothes? Sun hat?

Cleaning: wash rags (see my crochet tutorial here), wash buckets, empty spray bottles, scrub brushes, old toothbrushes, mop, broom, dust pan, etc.

Family: old adult clothes (suit, dress, pants, skirt, shirts, sweaters, sports attire, old glasses, sun glasses, etc.), jewelry, hats, shoes, etc. What do you wear to work? Around the house? Try providing a large mirror so they can see themselves. What do you do during the day? Add books, tea set, old computer, paper, pencils, etc. Who is in your family? Add baby dolls with clothes, bottles, burp clothes, diapers, stuffed animals (dog, cat, bird, etc.). Add children's clothes (older boy and girl). What do grandma and grandpa wear? (go to your local thrift store and grab some clothes from a couple of decades ago)

Car wash: wash rags, buckets, towels, etc. What do you wear when you was your car? Swimming suit? Make a cardboard car (out of a refrigerator box)

MAIL:

Post office: envelopes, paper, pens, manila folders, small packages, packing peanuts or tissue paper, scale, stamps, etc.

Mail carrier: letter bag, blue or brown uniform, envelopes, manila folders, small packages, stuffed animal (dog), etc.

Writing letters: envelopes, stationary, pens, pencils, stickers, etc.

DOCTORS:

Office: magazines, sign in list, scale, scrubs, stethoscope and other doctor "tools", Band-Aids, cotton balls, stickers or suckers etc.

Dentist: scrubs/white lab coat, plastic dental tools for children (watch children carefully so they don't harm anyone), dental x-rays, dental bib, dentures, etc.

Hospital: scrubs/white lab coat, scrubs, stethoscope, blood pressure cuff and other doctor "tools", medical charts, empty pill bottles, x-rays, cast, etc.

BEAUTY SHOPS:

Barber: large popsicle sticks, empty can of shaving cream (or full), large apron for "customer", clothes for the "barber", combs, etc.

Nail salon: lotion, nail polish, nail polish remover, cotton balls, nail file, nail clippers, etc.

Hair salon: brushes, combs, empty bottles of shampoo and conditioner, pony tail holders, head bands, burettes, hair dryer, sponge curlers, hair net or shower cap, etc.

RESTAURANT:

Fast food: bright shirts and caps, kids meal boxes, french fry containers, and soda cups (ask the restaurant if you can have an unused one or make your own), tissue paper, small toys for the kids meals, trays, paper money, cash register, etc.

Sit down: apron for "waiter", large tray, dishes, silverware, glasses, placemats, menus, name tags, to go boxes, etc.

FOOD:

Grocery store: shopping basket, cash register, paper money, plastic fruit, plastic vegetables, empty boxes of cereal, rice, crackers, cake mix, etc., empty egg cartons, milk cartons, etc., aprons for "employees", etc.

Bakery: plastic rolls, donuts, cakes, pies, etc.

Deli: plastic meat, cheese, rolls, bread, sliced vegetables, etc., empty mayo and mustard containers, etc.

TOWN PROTECTORS:

Police: blue vest, star badge, tickets, cardboard cars (one for the citizen, one for the officer)

Firefighter: black/yellow (or whatever color your community wears) jacket and pants, helmet, black boots, hose, buckets, stuffed dog, cardboard fire truck, cardboard buildings with fire, etc.

Paramedic: blue (or your community color) uniform, doctor "tools", stretcher, cardboard ambulance, etc.

OTHERS:

School: teacher, student

Library: community, school, computers

Nursery (plants)

Daycare

Camping: mountains, desert

Fishing

Beach

Musicians: band, choir, marching band

Fairy tale: prince, princess, queen, king, knight, dragon, castle, etc

Construction

Safari: jungle, Africa

Gym

Veterinarian

Pioneers: Oregon trail

Cowboys

Indians

Tea party

Flower shop

Birthday party

Ice cream stand

Luau: Hawaii, Caribbean, Bahamas, etc

Pet shop

Shoe store

Farmer

Pizza parlor

Mother Goose themes

BOOKS:

Caps For Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Career Day by Anne F. Rockwell

When I Grow Up by P. K. Hallinan

Community Helpers From A to Z by Bobbie Kalman

When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic

Berenstain Bear books by Jan Berenstain (Go To The Doctor, Visit The Dentist, Go Out To Eat, etc.)

Froggy books by Jonathan London (Goes To the Doctor, Eats Out, Goes To School, etc.)

SONGS:

DOWN BY THE STATION

Down by the station

Early in the morning

See the little pufferbellies

All in a row

See the station master

Turn the little handle

Puff, puff, toot, toot

Off we go!

Down by the station

Early in the morning

See the little puffer bellies

All in a row

See the station master

Turn the little handle

Puff, puff, toot, toot

Off we go!

I'VE BEEN WORKIN' ON THE RAILROAD

I've been workin' on the railroad,

All the live long day.

I've been workin' on the railroad,

Just to pass the time away.

Don't you hear the whistle blowing?

Rise up so early in the morn.

Don't you hear the captain shouting

"Dinah, blow your horn?"

Dinah, won't you blow,

Dinah, won't you blow,

Dinah, won't you blow your horn?

Dinah, won't you blow,

Dinah, won't you blow,

Dinah, won't you blow your horn?

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah.

Someone's in the kitchen, I know.

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah

Strumming on the old banjo.

Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.

Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o-o-o-o.

Fee, fie, fiddle-e-i-o.

Strumming on the old banjo.

To see songs about the day go here.