DRAMATIC PLAY AND PUPPETRY

1. DRAMATIC PLAY AND PUPPETRY IMPORTANCE OF DRAMATIC PLAY • Is an excellent means for developing the creativity and imagination of young children, who have instinctive way of dealing with reality. • One of the best way children have to express themselves is through creative dramatic play. • Children can learn to deal with their anxiety as well as act out their fantasies through creative dramatic play. • Through the imitation and make-believe of dramatic play, children sort out what they understand and gain a measure of mastery and control over events they’ve witnessed or taken part in.

2. THE BEGINNINGS OF DRAMATIC PLAY • The beginning of dramatic play is visible in the actions of children as young as one year. • Given the right prop, the baby will imitate the behavior associated with that prop. • Actual dramatic play begins when a child uses a prop for something other than the activity for which he has seen it used by an adult. • This happens when the child is about 2 yrs old; that is when children seems to be capable of making as “ as if” transformation of an object- a necessary prerequisites for pretend play.

3. DEVLEOPMENT OF DRAMATIC PLAY • From simple imitative movement, children move on to more complex dramatic play. • It is very important for teacher of young children to be very good observers, listeners and become part of the play of the child. • Many times creative dramatics begins with one child, and others soon join in. • Dramatic play is one of the ways that children naturally learn. and is their way of understanding and dealing with the world.

4. Dramatic play is also an important medium for language development, as it encourages fluency in language. • When children become involved in complex make-believe they need to listen and respond to each other. • As children play together they learn new words from each other. • They begin to recognize the importance of planning and take time to formulate more detailed plans for their dramatizations.

5. DRAMATIC PLAY IN THE HOME (OR HOUSKEEPING) CENTER • One of the best place for children to express themselves in creative, dramatic play is the housekeeping or home center. • Children are free and safe to express how they feel about themselves and others. • The home and creative dramatics center provides endless opportunities for the teacher, as a facilitator of learning, to broaden the children’s horizons. • It is important to emphasize a nonsexist approach in teaching, especially in the housekeeping area.

6. An observant teacher, sensitive to both sexes dramatic play and developing sex-role concept even gives cues that encourages all children to play in all centers. • The teacher should not be the leader or the organizer of the dramatic play and must try not to form premature conclusions or make assumptions for the child. • The teacher also encourages children’s play by providing props that extend the play but do not change the theme. • Younger children 2 or 4 years old generally are involved in such dramatic play for much briefer period of time than children 5 years old.

7. The process of imitating what has been observed is called modeling behavior. • Instance of such modeling behavior in the home center and elsewhere are even more prevalent in older children. • Children involved in dramatic play in the housekeeping center also use materials from various parts of the room to support their play. • Confining role players to one area or part of the room frustrates rather than supports their intentions. • Provide outdoor materials and equipment for pretending and role play.

8. CREATIVE DRAMATICS IN THE ELEMENTARY GRADES • Dramatic play is the free play of very young children in which they explore their universe , imitating the actions and traits of those around them. • Dramatic play is fragmented , existing only for the moment. • Creative drama refers to informal drama that is created by the participants. • It goes beyond dramatic play in scope and intent and may make use of a story with a beginning , a middle, and an end.

9. The term creative drama is generally used to describe the improvised drama of children from age six and older. • It offers elementary children the opportunity to develop their creativity and imaginations. • Because of its flexibility, drama can be a joyful and freeing adventure for groups of all ages. • Special needs can be served by adjusting emphases and activities to fit the ability level of the children. • Through creative dramatics, the imagination can be stimulated and strengthened in elementary students.

10. PUPPETS • Can be used for almost any of the dramatic experiences. • They offer the child two ways to express creativity • The creative experience of making the puppet. • The imaginative experience of making the puppet come to life. • Puppets fascinate and involve children in a way that few other art forms can because they allow children to enter the world of fantasy and drama so easily.

11. USING PUPPETS • The use of puppets usually begins in the nursery or preschool, where they are invaluable when readily avaliable for dramatic play. • Teacher can teach finger-play with simple finger puppets and use during music time. • Puppets are excellent for concept and demonstrate concrete concepts. • It is a sure means of stimulating creative storytelling in younger children.

12. Suggestions for puppet starters. • Put together a puppet center. • Recycle small plastic detergent bottles for a hand puppet rack. • Consider having a specific puppet for each center area. • Felt board and puppets work well together. • In music experiences, teachers find that puppets help young children develop a feeling for rhythm and music interpretation by moving the puppets to the beat. • Social studies is a natural area for puppets

13. KINDS OF PUPPETS • Stick puppets • Bag puppets • Hand puppets • Finger puppets • Types of finger puppets • Finger-leg • Finger-cap • Finger-face

14. Some advantages of finger puppets • They are easy to manipulate. • They encourage small muscle action. • One child alone can put on a performance with an entire cast. • They maintain interest because they are always easy and quick to make. • They can be made in spare moments, since materials are small and mobile. • Wooden spoon puppets • Two-faced (paper plate) puppets • Play dough puppets

15. Styrofoam ball puppets • Ping-Pong ball puppets • Sock puppet • Finger puppets from gloves • Old mitten puppets • Cardboard cylinder puppet • People puppets

16. SUMMARY • Dramatic play is an excellent means for developing creativity and imagination in young children when it is related to the child’s personal sense of reality without imposed adult standards. • Dramatic play kits are easy to make and help develop opportunities for creative play. • The use of puppets provides opportunities for creative movement, dramatic, and language development. • Creative dramatics refers to informal drama that is created by the participants.

17. It goes beyond dramatic play in scope and intent. • The creative dramatics is generally used to describe the improvised drama of children from age six and older. • Other uses of puppets in the early childhood program includes • Helping shy children express themselves. • Having children introduce themselves. • Teaching new concepts in various areas. • Types of puppets appropriate for use with young children are stick, finger, hand, people puppets, vegetable, Ping-Pong ball, and stryfoam puppets.