Dramatic play, pretend play or make-believe is a very important part of our curriculum. In the dramatic play center children take on a role and recreate real-life experiences. They use props and make-believe about a wide variety of topics.

         The ability to pretend is very important to children's later academic success. When children pretend, they have to recall experiences they have had and re-create them. To do this, they have to be able to picture their experiences in their minds. For example, to play the role of a doctor, children have to remember what tools a doctor uses, how a doctor examines a patient, and what a doctor says. In playing the role of doctor, children have to be able to cooperate with other children and defend their own ideas.

         As children act out roles, they develop many new skills. They learn about themselves, their families and society. Engaging in dramatic play, they learn to judge and select relevant information. This is an essential skill for intellectual development. Children also learn from one another as they interact in socio-dramatic play. They learn to ask and answer questions and to work together to solve problems.