Enriching Play Areas with Reading and Writing Materials to Promote Literacy Development

“Let’s play parents” Gabriella says to her friend, Sophia, as the two head to the corner of their preschool classroom where their teachers have strategically constructed a literacy-infused play area. The area contains a diverse collection of dolls, a miniature kitchen complete with all major appliances, a table with regular chairs and high chairs, a dresser filled with dress-up clothes and a baby bedroom with a mini pack-n-play and a doll-sized bed. To the naked eye this looks like any other early childcare play environment; however, literacy materials (e.g., books, writing instruments, notepads, etc.) have been strategically placed in different parts of the space.

Picking up two baby dolls, Sophia remarks, “Gabriella, you put these two babies to bed and tuck them in, and I’ll read them a story.”

“No,” Gabriella answers. “I want to read them a story too. We can both read stories.” In between the mini pack-n-play and the doll bed is a bin containing numerous books. The girls each take a book and “read” to their baby dolls- relying primarily on their memories of the story and the pictures as they “read" (1).

This is only one example of how my daughter's preschool teachers cunningly place literacy materials in play areas around the room- a practice supported by ample research. In fact, Roskos and Christie (2011), researchers and experts in all things play and literacy, concluded (through a critical-appraisal evaluation of empirical studies that investigated the impact of play on literacy):

“[T]he most profound relationship [specific to the influence of play on literacy development] is that between the play environment and literacy experience, where the simple access to literacy objects and print can stimulate playful literacy activity. When social resources (peers, teachers) are added to the mix, the relationship grows stronger.” (p.92)

So, how can parents and teachers of young children (and older kids too!) further infuse play spaces with literacy materials? We have a few ideas for you below specific to different areas:

Kitchen
-        Place pads of paper and writing implements for making shopping lists on kitchen counters and tables
-        Stock age-appropriate cookbooks and/or recipe cards (loaded with pictures) in the pantry or on shelves
-        Place kid-friendly newspapers and/or magazines on the table

Doll Bedroom
-        Place a bin of age-appropriate books near doll beds
-        Paint a wall with chalkboard paint and provide chalk for children to teach dolls to write and draw

Dress-up Area
-        Make a costume sign-out sheet and place it by the dress-up bin. Invite children to "sign" their names by the costume they are wearing and cross their names off when they have returned the costume
-        Place book-making materials by the dress-up area so children can write/draw stories while in character
-        Place books associated with available costumes in a bin nearby

Sand and/or Water Table
-        Have magnifying glasses, pencils and clipboards with a simple lab report form attached nearby for children to draw and write their observations



Do you infuse your home or school play areas with different literacy materials? We would love to know how you do it! Leave a comment below and contribute to the discussion.



Roskos, K. A., & Christie, J. F. (2013). Gaining ground in understanding the play-literacy relationship. American Journal of Play, 6(1), 82-97.

1 This account is loosely based on a relevant personal experience.

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