Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Cognitive Development (CD)

Subdomain: Creative Expression

Goal: Children demonstrate self-expression and creativity in a variety of forms and contexts, including play, visual arts, music, drama, and dance.

Skill Progression: Drama

Age: 24-27 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 24-27 Months.

Provide a variety of household materials for the child. Cooking, cleaning, and bathing props, for example.

Observe the child first without adult support. If the child’s play becomes repetitive, the adult can enter to provide suggestions and comments. For example, “Let’s pretend we’re having friends over. We need to clean! What should we do first?”

The child may need a suggested theme, but once interested he should be able to act out a simple sequence of actions. The sequence can be directed toward a doll, himself, or another person.

Explain to parents that dramatic play provides a means for children to recreate their memories of experiences. Dramatic play also enables them to have a reason to interact in imaginative ways with others. Suggestions include costumes and materials that can be used in multiple ways in the child’s play area.