Monday 22 February 2021

4 kids dramatic play activities you can create at home for free

Dramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amused


What with us all being stuck at home at the moment, its been really tough to keep little ones amused. So as an attempt to we've taken the opportunity to go a bit over the top with some dramatic play games.

These are all activities that I've put together for absolutely nothing - just simply using things I had laying around at home, such as cardboard boxes etc, and have been really popular with my three-year-old daughter. I've also included some of the resources I made for you to download and print out yourself too.

So keep reading for some simple ideas for playing make believe with your little ones.

Activity 1: Play airport

Dramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amused

Dramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amused


This one looks quite ambitious in scale, but I promise didn't take long to set up at all! I used a cardboard box to create a 'suitcase scanner', and stuck a picture on the side (download a copy below) I added some black bin bag along one side, through which my daughter then pushed bags.

We also had some 'passports' and 'tickets' (I mocked these up quickly on Canva - download a copy below), as well as used an old keyboard for her to use to check travellers in! The passengers were then able to 'take their seats' on the plane - for this I simply drew a picture of a window on a piece of A3 paper and stuck these above the chairs - and even collected their bags at 'baggage claim'.

Right click the below to download and print the signs, tickets, bag scanner image & passports: 


Dramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amusedDramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amused

Dramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amusedDramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amused

Dramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amused

Activity 2: Salon

Dramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amused

This is a really simple one, I drew some faces and hands onto large pieces of cardboard, which my daughter could then give 'manicures' and makeovers to, using paint, pens and some old make-up I was intending to throw out. The best part of this was the 'hairdressers' though - I drew a face onto the cardboard, poked some small holes all the way around the head, which I could thread some strands of wool through. She was then able to cut the 'hair' using some child-friendly scissors. I also taped two cardboard rolls together to create a 'hairdryer'.  


Activity 3: Vet surgery 

Dramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amused

An idea I absolutely loved putting together, this one is really simple too. My daughter has a lot of soft toys so setting up a veterinary surgery was an easy choice. 

I created an 'X-ray' machine from a cardboard box, which the 'patients' could be put in (the picture I stuck on the front can be downloaded below) I also made a checklist which my daughter could use when treating her toys. I also found some plasters and bandages for her to use too. 

Right click the below to download and print the X-ray image and patient list:

Dramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amusedDramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amused








Activity 4: Ice cream shop

Dramatic play games activities to create at home for free. From play airports, to salons and vets, keep your kids or toddler amused

Probably the easiest one of the lot, but the game that went down the best with my three year old! Simply screw coloured paper into balls to create 'ice cream scoops' that can be served in cardboard cones or dishes, and topped with pom poms or sequins acting as 'sprinkles'. We set up a table and chairs to create more of a cafe style activity too, and she kept returning to this game for a few days afterwards. Although be prepared to be picking up the paper balls forever though! 

I've previously shared some craft projects that have been popular with my daughter too - you can find lots more ideas for activities to do whilst at home here

Hope you find some of these ideas helpful! 

Thanks for reading, 

Sam Xx


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