As one of the most important types of play in the early years, dramatic play should be supported in the outdoor environment. While dramatic play will occur wherever there are healthy preschoolers, a proper play environment can do much to encourage the best kinds of dramatic play. We believe there are at least three important components to environments that support dramatic play:

• Built elements (child-size playhouses and vehicles) with appropriate enclosure
• Contiguous placement of the built elements along a complex trike track
• Various loose parts like trikes, dramatic play props, parachutes, and large blocks like our Inter+Blocks

The Basic Playhouse is a generic, undecorated house structure with 30 degree gable roof, floor, 2 doors and four windows. Doors and windows are open (no closing elements), and provide full view supervision (window sills are only 16” high). A generic playhouse is the key structure for dramatic play as it can be whatever the children consider it to be. Teachers should allow children to bring loose materials into the playhouse (sand, cooking utensils, nesting tables, loose parts) to encourage construction and pretend activity. Boxes painted to look like appliances can be added to stimulate house type play. Standard sizes are 5’X5’ and 6’X6’. The Tothouse is a smaller playhouse structure with four posts, a floor and a rotationally molded A-frame roof. Approximately 45”X45”, this smaller frame can be augmented with any of GFP’s panels and signs. It can also be fitted with a small, low table attached to the interior of one of the panels.

Vehicles
Vehicles that encourage dramatic play provide a sense of the magical world of childhood. Children become the players in dramas as bold as life itself. Some vehicles, such as our pirate ship, combine large motor activity with dramatic play.Grounds For Play offers a variety of vehicle structures to stimulate pretend play. Examples are: Small Firetruck (ground level), Firetruck (large climber) Bus, Subway Train, Train Engine, SUV, Mini-Car, Pirate Ship (climber), Tugboat, and Space Shuttle. Custom vehicles are possible, pending safe and appropriate design. All structures are appropriate for fostering group pretend play. Each can be made wheelchair accessible.

• Support trike play (traffic signs)
• Encourage safe play (no-trike signs, hazard barrier signs, suggested age use signs),
• Present the written word in relevant contexts for children (Store, Gas Station, etc.).
• Signs are available in English and other languages, providing support for multi-cultural program goals.