Role Play is an important part of early childhood. There are many types of role play but one that many of us are familiar with and have memories of is that of Construction Role play. These memories will often include building structures from Lego, building a fort or pretend house in the outdoor area with a variety of construction materials, or simply seeing how things stack and combine to create something new.
So, what are the things we need to consider if thinking about developing the Construction area in our setting? Read on to find some ideas and inspiration.
Provide a range of materials for children to construct with
Create a realistic learning location by having a good, varied assortment of building materials. Different sized bricks and stones help set the scene. A selection of gravel along with sand and a builder’s tray is also useful.
Construction resources that bring role play to life
A construction site set up is ideal for encouraging communication, maths and collaborative play. Cordon off an area with plastic mesh, just like the real sites use. Let the children design the signs and posters, reaffirming safety rules aligned to real sites. Ensure there is a place to store tools, clipboards, hard hats, brushes, buckets and spades etc. Consider adding mugs and a kettle in order to make a cup of tea at break times and provide wheelbarrows and other construction resources so that bricks and sand can be transported. ICT can be integral with mini mobile phones, tools, torches waterproof/colour changing Glow Collectors Buckets and metal detectors.
Consider that most children will have only experienced construction scenes from a distance, so view videos, books, and find clips on websites to enable the children to gain a sense of what actual sites are like.
For a small world alternative, set up a Tuff Spot with a construction theme. Add a builder’s yard mat, sand, small pebbles and construction small world resources. Small world construction workers and vehicles also make a lovely addition.
Construction tips and ideas
- Use wet sand as ‘cement’ and provide bricks to enable children to build super walls.
- Try to include pulley systems for moving materials across the site. Set challenges for transporting items.
- Chalk is a good way of drawing out architects’ plans and marking where the building is going to take place.
- Children need to be able to access water, not only to mix the concrete, but to pretend to paint, clean etc.
- Provide the appropriate clothing e.g. hard hats, hi-vis vest or let them design their own.
- Ask the children what they want to build, then record each stage to completion, taking photographs along the way.
- Consider the different roles on a site e.g. carpenter plumber, inspectors, delivery vans etc. Provide access to wood, piping, guttering and a variety of tools etc to make the scene realistic.
- Design for a particular character – make a wolf proof house, a house for Elmer etc.
- Create reasons for children to write by providing clipboards.
- Count the cones as you cordon off the building site.
- How many bricks have been laid?
Shop our full range of construction and building site role play resources here
Written by Michelle Reid. Michelle is a mum of one and has over 20 years of experience working as a nursery nurse and qualified teacher in the Early Years and Primary sector.
