The Owls are finding so many inventive ways to use the new Dramatic Play Area. Today some Owls build a ship, and quickly declared it a pirate ship! What unfolded was one of the longest and most beautiful examples of cooperative play that I have seen this year. The Owls are at all different points in their social and cognitive development. Some are experienced master players, able to weave intricate scripts, negotiate through problems and bring imagination to their play. Others are just beginning to play alongside their friends in parallel play. For all players, a larger group requires more skill to negotiate. And so back to the pirate ship!
After some children built the ship, it was quickly populated by pirates. As Matthew explained, "You have to wear goggles to be a pirate!" Many pirates brought their puppies, tucking them inside blocks to "keep them out of the rain." Throughout the play, children wove in and out of the play sometimes silently joining in alongside their friends, other times asking, "What are you playing? Can I play too?" More experienced players would explain the rules, "You need goggles and a puppy," and make a spot for them. Sometimes someone would bring a new idea or prop which would change the direction of the play. Alexander brought his "cell phone" calculator, and soon all the pirates were call their mommies and daddies. The social intelligence and cognitive flexibility required by such play can take years to develop and as the Owls mature, I am so excited to see how this will unfold.
We also wrote a letter to Jamell who moved to a new school close to his mom's job, kept working on the Cozy Box and played on the newly open Outdoor Classroom!
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