• Build on children’s natural curiosity about themselves and others including animals.

Role-play is an important aspect of Early Years educa­tion. It can provide a link between more teacher-directed aspects of the curriculum and the opportunities for child-initiated activity. 

Children love dressing up and involving themselves in role-play as an extension of their formal learning. Consider the following as role-play areas:

a hospital – a number of baby and other dolls and teddies were provided which could be patients; they also had simple dressing-up outfits, so that both boys and girls could pretend to be doctors and nurses, as well as pretend stethoscopes and thermometers, etc.;

a vet’s surgery or animal hospital – a variety of soft animal toys such as teddies, cats, dogs, rabbits, squirrels, etc. were provided to be patients along with stethoscopes, etc.;

a kitchen for the preparation of food – pans, bowls, plates, plastic food items, etc. were provided.