What Is Dramatic Play (and Why It Matters More Than You Think)
- Jolene Phillips
- Jan 6
- 4 min read
As a counselor and a mom, I cannot even begin to tell you how much dramatic play I’ve taken part in over the years. I’ve been the customer, the teacher, the baby, the patient, the sidekick, you name it. Enough times that I often think I’ve finally got the right idea…until my hand gets gently (or not-so-gently) slapped and I’m scolded for playing the wrong way. Whoops.
And honestly? That moment is such a good reminder of what dramatic play really is. It’s not about doing it “right.” It’s about following your child’s lead, even when that means realizing you were never meant to be in charge in the first place.
Over the years, I’ve also had so many parents share that dramatic play feels hard for them. They don’t know how to engage. They worry they’re doing it wrong. They tend to prefer games with clear structure and rules, because those feel safer and more familiar. Dramatic play, on the other hand, can feel awkward, open-ended, and a little uncomfortable if imagination doesn’t come naturally to you.
If that’s you, I want you to know, you’re not doing anything wrong. Dramatic play isn’t intuitive for everyone. And the good news? Your child doesn’t need you to be good at it. They just need you to be willing to show up.If you’ve ever overheard your child talking to an invisible classroom of stuffed animals, serving you an elaborate “dinner” from a toy kitchen, or pretending to run a bakery, school, or animal hospital, you’ve witnessed dramatic play in action.
Dramatic play (also called pretend or imaginative play) is one of the most natural and powerful ways children make sense of their world. And while it might look like “just playing,” there is so much meaningful work happening beneath the surface.
What Is Dramatic Play?
Dramatic play is when children take on roles, act out experiences, and use imagination to create stories or scenarios. Sometimes it’s inspired by real life (like going to the grocery store or celebrating a holiday), and other times it’s entirely made up.
Through dramatic play, children explore:
Relationships and social roles
Emotions, big and small
Problem-solving and flexibility
Their own identity and voice
It’s how they safely rehearse life.
What Does Dramatic Play Look Like?
Dramatic play doesn’t need to be elaborate to be meaningful. You might see your child:
Playing “family,” “school,” or “shop”
Turning household items into props
Re-enacting moments from their day
Giving voices to toys or stuffed animals
Creating stories that stretch over multiple play sessions
Sometimes the play is joyful and silly. Sometimes it’s repetitive or intense. Often, that repetition is your child working through something important.
How to Support Dramatic Play at Home
Supporting dramatic play doesn’t mean entertaining your child, it means creating the conditions where imagination can thrive.
Offer open-ended materials
Dress-up clothes, pretend food, boxes, paper, and figurines all invite creativity. The less defined the toy, the more room there is for imagination.
This is one of the reasons I created Cupid’s Cookie Co., my Valentine’s Day Dramatic Play Kit. It gives children a playful framework, a cookie shop filled with love, connection, and creativity, while still leaving plenty of space for them to make the story their own. Kits like this can spark imaginative play without scripting it.
Make time for unstructured play
Dramatic play needs breathing room. When kids aren’t rushed or over-scheduled, their ideas have time to unfold.
Follow your child’s lead
If you’re invited in, let them be the director. Your role might simply be the customer, the helper, or the listener.
Notice without taking over
Gentle reflections like, “You’re working really hard to help your customers,” or “That character seems worried,” can support emotional awareness without interrupting the play.
Why Dramatic Play Is So Powerful
From both a parenting and counseling perspective, dramatic play is where so much growth happens.
Emotional processing: Children act out feelings they don’t yet have words for
Social development: They practice empathy, cooperation, and perspective-taking
Language growth: Storytelling strengthens communication and sequencing
Confidence: Trying on roles helps children understand themselves and their abilities
This is something I explore more deeply in Imogen and the House of Make-Believe, my beginner’s chapter book about a girl with an incredible imagination. Through Imogen’s story, readers can see just how powerful dramatic and imaginative play can be, how it becomes a place for problem-solving, emotional growth, and self-discovery.
For some children, imaginative play is their safe space. For others, it’s how they make sense of a confusing or overwhelming world. And for many, it’s both.
Final Thoughts
Dramatic play isn’t extra. It isn’t something to rush past or outgrow. It’s essential work, wrapped up in creativity, storytelling, and joy.
Whether your child is running a Valentine’s cookie shop, stepping into the world of Imogen’s imagination, or creating something entirely their own, know this: when children engage in dramatic play, they are building skills that will carry them far beyond the playroom.
And that kind of learning is always worth protecting. 💛
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