In Early Years settings, a roleplay area has been a beloved staple for decades. Whether it’s a home corner, a vet’s office, a post office, or a garden centre, these spaces are designed to encourage children’s imagination, social skills, and understanding of the world around them. However, the way we craft these roleplay environments can either engage children deeply or fail to allow them to deepen their connections and therefore miss opportunities to learn. In my programme, Purposeful Provision, we focus on the importance of designing roleplay spaces that allow children to play with what they know.
The Role of Familiarity in Roleplay
Many settings start with a home corner, which makes sense—after all, every child has experience with a home environment in one form or another. A home corner doesn’t need to be generic, and it shouldn’t be! Children bring specific, personal experiences from home that we should reflect in this space. Imagine a child who eats curries and chapattis at home, another who has pizza nights with their family, and another who recognises takeaway cups from a quick drive-through. If we tune into each child’s unique play diet—their personal and cultural experiences—we can create a space that feels like home to every child. This is the continuous provision of course; over time you’ll find yourself adding in more based on the learning journeys children take with you. You might enhance based on a baking activity, a visit to a restaurant etc.
It’s tempting to swap out the home corner for other spaces, but I would argue strongly: never remove your home corner. Instead, keep it as a base and augment it as needed. By meeting children where they are, we’re creating roleplay that’s both relatable and meaningful.
Beyond the Home Corner: Creating Relevant Spaces
Settings often experiment with themed areas like mechanics shops, garden centres, or post offices. While these can seem engaging, it’s essential to consider whether these spaces reflect children’s real experiences. How many children have been to a traditional post office, handed over cash, and received a receipt in exchange? For many, a trip to a shop means tapping a card at self-service or watching parents use their phone to pay. Without these familiar elements, children may not know how to engage in these roleplay spaces.
People argue that we’re providing new experiences by introducing these spaces. Certainly, there’s a place for introducing new concepts and vocabulary. However, it’s important to balance this with the principle of play with what you know. Realistic environments support children’s understanding and enable them to immerse themselves in the role they’re playing, as they’re not bogged down by figuring out the basics of how to interact with the space. The result is a more seamless and meaningful learning experience. If you want to provide new opportunities for learning in a garden centre, post office or something new to them, take them! Plan a trip and make it a real experience they can bring back to the setting.
Connecting with Theory
This approach resonates with theorists like Lev Vygotsky, who argued that children learn best through socially mediated activities within their zone of proximal development. By creating spaces children can relate to, we’re setting up roleplay within their comfort zone, where they can confidently explore, question, and expand on what they already know with guidance.
Building Authentic Home corners: Practical Examples
Instead of a generic “kitchen,” think about what home truly looks like for the children in your setting. Have a shelf of spices, mock containers for chapatti flour, or even pretend takeaway packaging. Is the family eating around a table, or sitting on the floor with cushions? Small touches can bring a level of authenticity that resonates deeply with children. Go to a supermarket and source FAMILIAR brands that the children know. Avoid anything containing clipart as this is likely going to be too abstract for the children.
Why Purpose Matters in Provision
The idea of Purposeful Provision is about meeting children where they are, and it’s something that takes intention. The aim isn’t to restrict their learning to only what they know but to anchor it in familiarity, creating opportunities for deeper exploration. When children engage in a space that feels authentic, they’re more likely to experiment, interact, and ask questions—ultimately leading to more meaningful play. The experiences they bring from their daily lives are rich and varied, and by honouring those experiences in our roleplay setups, we support them in making connections and developing confidence.
Through thoughtfully crafted roleplay environments, we can achieve powerful learning outcomes without needing to rely on overly elaborate themes. A well-developed home corner, for instance, can teach everything from social skills and language to fine motor skills and responsibility.
By grounding roleplay in real-life experiences, we’re helping children bridge the gap between their world and the world around them, building a foundation they can explore confidently.
So, when creating roleplay spaces, always ask: Does this reflect what my children know? By considering this, we foster a sense of belonging and a natural eagerness to learn, one play moment at a time.
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