The doll corner is a part of nursery education. What does a child learn in the doll corner and what requirements should a doll corner meet in order for children to develop or flourish?
The doll corner in the kindergarten
In the nursery classes you can find a doll corner. This is a corner that is furnished in a homely manner. There is often a stove/kitchen in there and children can dress up. A doll corner can be linked to a theme on which you work with the children, but you can also simply use the doll corner as a development place.
The puppet corner and role play
What does a child learn in the doll corner? A child learns to play and that playing is very important for the child’s development. Especially in the doll corner, a toddler develops socially. Children play role plays. You can think of mother and father or a hospital. Children learn what to do in the hospital and why you go to the hospital if you convert the doll corner into a hospital. Mathematics is also discussed in the doll corner. You can turn the doll corner into a shop. Children learn to give money back. Of course, this does not yet work correctly with toddlers, but they are already working on money. Children learn that they can buy things in the store and that these things cost money. All these things that toddlers learn in the doll corner are basic principles for further development.
The goals of a doll corner
The doll corner is mainly intended to make children self-aware in situations that are part of everyday life. The store was already mentioned in the above piece. The child learns to go shopping and the terms money and payment. In every situation you can learn something in the doll corner.
The puppet corner and the teacher’s task
The teacher also has a task in the puppet corner. As a teacher, it is important that you guide the children in what you want to teach them. It may happen that you set the goal that the children know what a hospital is and what they do in the hospital. Preschoolers can choose their own path in the doll corner and then play something that has nothing to do with the doll corner. It is then your job as a teacher to guide the children. Bring them back to the agreement that you as a teacher in the circle have already made clear. You can guide children who are not able to keep up well by giving them pointers and encouraging them to role-play.
The materials in the doll corner
- It is fun to decorate the doll corner according to theme. During the ‘Sinterklaas’ theme it is fun to put down a miter and the cloak of Sinterklaas and Piet suits.
- Make sure that the doll corner is not set up in a dark place in the room. Children do not like dark places and are therefore less likely to play in the doll corner.
- Provide different costumes. Don’t put them all in the doll corner at the same time, so you can alternate.
Try to make a doll corner as cozy as possible and provide variety. You have to challenge a toddler to play in the doll corner.
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