Free & DIY Dramatic Play Ideas

10/20/2022

Free & DIY Dramatic Play Ideas

Purchasing items for your dramatic play space doesn't have to break the bank when there are so many fun low-cost, free, or DIY options available! Below you find some of our favorite low cost Ideas for your Dramatic Play Space, shared by our readers and found around the web!

Dramatic Play Stands

While not essential, a dramatic play stand is a great base for your dramatic play invitations. It's a space where children can set up all their props and use as a jumping off point for organizing their play.
We've seen so many creative ways to create dramatic play stands! Simple bookcases, wood crates, old furniture that has been spruced up...the options are really endless with a little imagination. We've gathered a few of our favorite ideas here to get you started.

Build Your Own Play Stand

Our DIY Play stand tutorial shows you how to make your own stand out of wood crates.

DIY Dramatic Play Stand

PVC Playhouse

Here is a DIY option to make a playhouse. Check out this cute
PVC Playhouse from Sweetest Littles.

PVC Playhouse-Source: Sweetest Littles

Kitchen in a Box

This portable Kids Play Stove is the perfect option for a provider with limited space-Created by Kids Pink Plate

Play Kitchen in a Box-Source: Kids Pink Plate

Build Your Own Play Kitchen

I love this DIY Toddler Kitchen Tutorial from Peek-a-boo pages, See how to make your own!

DIY Toddler Dream Kitchen-Source: Peek-a-boo Pages

Ice Cream Stand IKEA Hack

What a fun and easy Ice Cream stand hack for your IKEA Kitchen from U, Ready Freddy. The possibilities are endless!

DIY Storefront

Making Lemonade shows you how to create your own Market from items you have around the house!

Create your own DIY Market Source: Making Lemonade Blog

Transform your Dramatic Play Stand

Once you have a dramatic play stand you might need some inspiration for transforming it into a variety of play invitations! Check out our post for 15+ ways to transform your dramatic play stand.

DIY and Free Dramatic Play Props

Take a look around the house and your learning space to find some props for your space. Sometimes finding the exact prop you need can be a little challenging, fortunately it doesn't need to be expensive with a little creativity! We've gathered up some awesome ideas for free and diy dramatic play props to get those creative juices flowing.

DIY Lettuce

Our reader Crystal shared a photo of this pretend "Kale" that she saw at her local children's museum. Recreate this for your own space, by adding tissue paper to your recycled food containers.

Tissue Paper "Kale"-Crystal Poston

DIY FOOD CONTAINERS

Kids love using recycled food containers, but if you don't have any you can check out these FREE food labels from Sew Cake Make and add them to any plain box!

Free Printable Food Labels-Sew Cake Make

Learn How to Print on Felt

Check out our tutorial on how to
make your own printed felt food!

Learn to Print on Felt!

Use Real Food

One of the main purposes of a housekeeping space is for young children to take on the jobs found inside the home, including cooking! Our friends at Cre8tive kids Childcare added some dried pasta to their space!

Use real food for pretend cooking-Cre8tive Kids Childcare

DIY Mail Bag

A Post Office Theme is one our our favorites! We created a tutorial for making a DIY Mail Bag with your preschoolers perfect for adding to this fun theme and your Post Office Dramatic Play invitation.

DIY Mail Bag

Child Sized Mop

One of the important jobs at home is cleaning! You can easily add dish rags, and sponges to your space. Learn how you can create your own child sized mop for only $1 with this tutorial from Pre-K Printable Fun

Kid Size Mop Tutorial

Cardboard Washing Machine

This cardboard washing Machine
from Pink Lemonade is so clever!

DIY Washing Maching Source: Serving Pink Lemonade

Chow Mein Noodles

Adventurous Learning shared these fabulous noodles made from yarn. These would be a perfect addition to compliment a Chinese Restaurant Dramatic Play Space

Pretend Noodles from Adventurous Learning Unlimited

Felt and Pom Pom Pies

Our friends Sherry from First Friends Family Child Care shared these fabulous Pies she made from Felt and Pom Poms!

Felt Pies from First Friends Family Child Care

Use Recyclables

Don't forget to look through the recycling bin for materials. This camera for our News Station Dramatic Play invitation was made from a box, milk caps, tissue paper holder, plastic cup and a flashlight!

Library Pretend play

Kids love playing library , be sure to check out this great post on the Pleasantest Thing

Library Pretend play and Free Printables-Source: The Pleasantest Thing

Cardboard Mailbox

Create your own cardboard Mail Box
with this tutorial from IKATBAG

DIY Mailbox from IKATBAG

Free Pet Adoption Forms

Learn, Create, Love Created these adorable Free Pet Adoption Forms

Free Pet Printables-Source: Learn Create Love

Free and DIY Dress-up Ideas

Dressing up is one of the most popular ways for preschoolers to engage in dramatic play and it's an essential part of early childhood development. Be sure to dig through the closet and ask family for small adult sized clothing or old Halloween costumes to add to your costume rotation. Often real clothing is a great option as they are easily washable. Here are some other dress-up ideas for your preschoolers.

costume shop dramatic play

Dinosaur Tail

Everyone loves dress up! Check out this easy dinosaur tail sewing tutorial from The TipToe Fairy

Craft Your Own Headbands

Get out the construction paper and crafting supplies to make some headwear for dramatic play with your preschoolers! We made these fun Hibiscus Headbands for our Pirates & Tropical Islands Theme.

Make Your Own Clothes

This Robot Vest from Fun-a-Day is a great idea to get kids in on making their own dress-up clothes

Fun a Day Robot Costume

Go Miniature

Miniaturize your dramatic play invitation to be used with blocks and mini toy figures.
See my Printing Multiple Pages Per Sheet Tutorial to learn this technique.
See more photos from this mini Zoo Dramatic Play invitation.

We love Dramatic Play invitations and have created 30+ Dramatic Play Packs to keep engagement in the dramatic play center going all year long.
Here is a freebie to get you started!