Help me give my students tools to increase their communication and language skills with pretend play items like a kitchen set, community helper dress up costumes, and baby dolls.
I love watching my students explore and learn new things through hands-on interactions with each other and their environments. As a speech therapist that works with mostly early elementary and preschool children, I know the power of play for children and how pretend play routines and activities can stimulate language acquisition. I also know that some of my favorite and most engaging therapy sessions have happened when I was following my students’ lead and playing alongside them.
As Jean Piaget notes, “Play is the work of childhood”.
Mr. Rogers elaborated: “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.” If you take play away from our small kiddos, you take away one of their best avenues for learning. I see students as young as 3 years old. Making them sit still at a desk and complete worksheets is just not always an option for someone that small. I need your help to give my youngest students the best learning environment possible.
My Project
I’m excited to get some materials that I know will engage my younger students, who make up most of my caseload. They will have endless opportunities for language-rich learning by using these pretend play items during therapy.
Pretend play allows us to target multiple language goals in a short amount of time, while keeping my students engaged.
For example, my younger kiddos will practice food vocabulary and following direction skills when using the kitchen set. The baby doll will allow them to practice body parts and clothing vocabulary, while also learning action words like “feed, sleep, eat, drink, play.” Using the dress up clothes gives us an opportunity to discuss community helpers like policeman, cooks, doctors, and what they do.
These are more than just toys for my students, they are therapy materials that will engage my students in ways worksheets and flash cards never could.
KidKraft Vintage Kitchen - White
• Amazon Business
$109.99
1
$109.99
Badger Basket Girls Two Basket Doll Crib (fits American Girl Dolls), Gray/White
• Amazon Business
$35.99
1
$35.99
Premium Wooden Coat Rack Free Standing, with 8 Hooks Lacquered Pine Wood Tree Coat Rack Stand for Coats, Hats, Scarves, Clothes, and Handbags (Natural)
• Amazon Business
$29.99
1
$29.99
Melissa & Doug Doctor Role Play Costume Dress-Up Set (7 pcs)
• Amazon Business
$27.98
1
$27.98
Melissa & Doug Fire Chief Role Play Costume Dress-Up Set (6 pcs)
• Amazon Business
$26.31
1
$26.31
Badger Basket Doll High Chair, Gray/White
• Amazon Business
$25.99
1
$25.99
Baby Alive Sweet Spoonfuls AA Baby Girl Doll
• Amazon Business
$24.96
1
$24.96
Melissa & Doug Police Officer Role Play Costume Set, Ages 3-6 yrs
• Amazon Business
$24.50
1
$24.50
Melissa & Doug Chef Role Play Costume Dress -Up Set With Realistic Accessories
• Amazon Business
$23.43
1
$23.43
Melissa & Doug Construction Worker Role Play Costume Dress-Up Set (6 pcs)
• Amazon Business
$20.97
1
$20.97
Baby Alive Super Snacks Snackin' Luke (African American)
• Amazon Business
$14.99
1
$14.99
Baby Alive Powdered Doll Food
• Amazon Business
$5.29
2
$10.58
Baby Alive Diapers Pack (6 Pack)
• Amazon Business
$4.49
2
$8.98
Materials cost
$384.66
Vendor shipping charges
FREE
Sales tax
$0.00
3rd party payment processing fee
$5.77
Fulfillment labor & materials
$30.00
Total project cost
$420.43
Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
$74.19
Total project goal
$494.62
How we calculate what's needed
Total project goal
$494.62
3 Donors
-$494.62
Donations toward project cost
-$420.43
Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Hannah and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
