Tea Party Dramatic Play Center

Put on your fanciest outfit, brush up on manners, and enjoy a spot of afternoon tea! This tea party dramatic play center is sure to be a smashing success!

Dramatic play is a cornerstone of early childhood development. Students learn to interact with others, view text within a real-life setting, practice early math skills, and more! Whether an elaborate set-up with all the bells and whistles, or a simple arrangement with a few props, this dramatic play center is sure to be a hit in any preschool classroom.

An Invitation to Tea

Setting up a space for children to play and learn is like writing a fancy invitation to the best party in town. So many learning opportunities are available when organizing a dramatic play center.

Literacy

• Students choose how to interact with the center by using name tags.
• Labels on items expose students to environmental print and reinforce the notion that print has meaning.
• Order forms allow students to imitate the act of writing.
• When students use the menus, they increase their vocabulary and create an environment that allows them to interact with print as adults do. .

Math

• When students organize and arrange items, they practice sorting and comparing.
• Counting happens naturally as orders are taken and filled.
• The menu offers organic exposure to numbers.
• Sequencing is offered through step-by-step processes.

Social-Emotional Learning

• When playing different roles, students must take turns and listen to the needs of others.
• Pretend play allows students to relieve stress and anxiety.
• Teachers can observe and learn more about how students interact.
• When playing in the dramatic play center, students often take on the role of people they have seen before.

Tea Party Tales

When incorporating books related to the tea party theme, students develop a personal response to the written text. This allows students to solidify their concept of the theme, build their vocabulary, and see images of others enjoying the same activity.

When using this dramatic play theme, these books fit the bill:

• Teatime Around the World – a great introduction to tea around the world
• Fancy Nancy – great for building vocabulary
• Miss Spider’s Tea Party – a beautifully illustrated story with a great lesson
• The Tea Party in the Woods – sweet story with beautiful illustrations
• Tea Rex – a fantastic take on how to host a tea party
• Mr. Pumpkin’s Tea Party – adorably illustrated Halloween book
• Tea Party Rules – a delightful and imaginative book
• T-Rex’s Tea Party – a light-hearted story with great opportunities for learning
• Madeline’s Tea Party – adorable addition to the Madeline series
• Fancy Nancy’s Tea for Two – a story of friendship

Prepping for the Tea Party

Like any party, there is some setup involved for a successful tea party. A welcoming display space, such as this one, is a great invitation to play.

Suggested Supplies include:

• printed labels and menus
• role-play name tags
• center sign or bunting
• table and chairs
• dresses
• hats, purses and gloves
• vests
• tea kettles & cups
• play food like these sweet tea cakes

Dramatic play centers are not a one-size-fits-all formula. Inspiration for setting up the area can come from many different places. Let the creativity flow, and the playing and learning will be sure to follow.

Additional Resources

• Supporting Language: Culturally Rich Dramatic Play
• The Importance of Dramatic Play

This dramatic play center includes essentials such as:

• Welcome Sign
• Prop Labels
• Name tags
• Invitations
• Menu & Order form
• How to make tea – visual directions
• Pennant Bunting
• “Betsy Book” – social story to introduce the new dramatic play center