#6 - Role Play for children

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This week’s post comes to us from guest author & Harvard alumna, Sannidhi Bhat

When I was in grade 1, I would pretend to be a teacher. I used to make my younger sister, a.k.a my student, sit on a chair in front of a small blackboard, as if we were in class. I would teach her all that I learnt in school exactly the way my teacher used to. It used to be a well-crafted, detailed pretend play that included playtime, a lunch break, and a diligent singing of the morning school prayer, though not necessarily in that order. 

Role-playing comes very naturally to children. It is in fact an integral part of child development that can be seen across different stages from early childhood. Children mimic the adults around them. This entails observation of different environments they have been a part of and incorporating it into their own actions. 

While pretending to be a doctor, a child taps into previously gathered knowledge reflects and expresses through different actions combining aspects of auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning. This way role-playing helps the child not only comprehend using different learning styles but also develop it. There are a lot of skills children can learn actively through role play such as linguistic skills, socio-emotional skills, and listening skills.  Children also build on their imagination, learn to think creatively and gather different perspectives. 

In addition, now, more than ever there is a need to help children understand more about the social world and the importance of diversity and inclusion. Role-playing can serve as a learning tool for the same. 

There are many ways in which we can use children’s natural interest in role-play to engage them in exploring and learning new and different things. You can find some resources below.

1. An app-based game where children (6-12 years) can play the role of a teacher while practicing math and English. Children can do everything from ringing the bell, taking attendance to correcting math and English questions. Click here.

2. A fun role-play game app for early childhood (3+ years) with a lot of space for open-ended play. Click here.

3. Here is a fun video of what role play can look like at home. One can use simple and everyday items from in and around the house for role plays. 

4. You can read more about pretend play here. 

5. If you are an educator wanting to teach or design online classes, you can find out more about designing a role-play in class. Click here. 

6. Some tips about learning English through role-playing. Click here.

7. Children can pick their favorite character from a book, a movie, a cartoon, etc. They can replicate the character’s way of doing things, wear similar clothes, communicate in interesting ways. You can get more ideas here.

Take some time out to plan and play with your kids! 

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Sannidhi Bhat is a graduate from Harvard Graduate School of Education working as a Subject Matter Expert at LEAD School.