Imaginative Role Play is an important part of early childhood development. As children engage in imaginative and dramatic play, they are developing a range of skills including oral language, cooperation and problem solving. Today I’d like to share a really engaging doctor themed imaginative play corner that I set up for my toddler!
My daughter has been very interested in anything and everything related to going to the doctors lately. I decided to design a range of doctor themed printables so that I could set up a beautiful doctor’s surgery for her to play in at home!
First up is the reception area complete with an appointment book and patient details forms and folders! This is a great way to get your Little Learners to begin making marks or writing authentically. After sorting through my bookshelf, I decorated the waiting room and reception with some information books about the body.
I created a patient appointment book using a manilla folder and then I just stuck some patient appointment printables inside ready for the receptionist to write in! The little medicine bottles were so easy to make using some containers I already had around the house. The medicine labels from my Doctor Dramatic Play Set were easy to print and then attach with clear adhesive contact! You could also add beads for medicine but I also have a baby who eats alllllll the things so I decided to leave them empty.
After a trip to our local dollar shop, I was able to fill some baskets with bandages, bandaids and some medical equipment. My beautiful wooden doctors set is from Little Wooden Toybox – aren’t the little tools gorgeous? They also came with a bandage, bandaids and a very sweet little nurses hat!
We also added some cotton buds, make up pads and cotton balls to some clear plastic containers for the doctor’s consult room. They looked so cute!
Finally, I set up my light panel from Modern Teaching Aides. In my Doctors Dramatic Play Set, you’ll actually find some real X-Ray photos which you can print onto thin paper and use like real X-Rays on a light table! My toddler loved trying to work out what part of the body she was looking at.
This packet provides lots of authentic opportunities to read and write as well! I’ve created a range of black line masters suitable for early writers which are also complimented by simple clip art to encourage even the earliest of readers and writers.
As you can see, this was pretty easy to set up using the printables in my Doctor Themed Dramatic Play Set. I added a few bits and pieces from around the house or the dollar store and it was ready to play with! If you’d like to grab this set for your imaginative play area, you can click the button below!
