Play is children's work and when we think about play for young children, we think it just happens. But children do need support in their play to get it started and to keep in going. When adults support their play, they will be more engaged and play for longer. Produce the Play is a framework that uses an anology of producing a theatre play, to identify roles that parents can take on to get play happening at home. Because, when play is happening, parents connect to their children and feel confidence and connections to parenting

1. www.igniteearlylearning.com.au
Produce the Play
The first component towards
building confident and
connected parents

2. Hi, I’m Tracy, the founder of Ignite Early Learning. I
help working parents to identify opportunities for
learning through play at home so that they feel
confident and connected to parenting

4. When you think about how
children engage in play
you think that it just
happens.

5. But children do need support to play,
especially to get their play started
and to keep it going for longer

6. Ignite Early uses the analogy of
producing a theatre play to teach
parents the roles that they can take
in children’s play

7. Produce the Play has been developed to simplify the
teaching strategies used in early childhood
education. We have identified 7 roles that adults
need to take on to support the engagement of their
child in play.

8. The Location Scout finds the
right place to play

9. You need to take on the role of The
Location Scout when your child requires
assistance to find the best place to play

11. The Stage Manager provides the
resources, creates the space, and
sets the scene for the play

12. When in the role of The Stage Manager you
choose resources, set them up, and help your
child to start to play. When you identify your
child’s interests you can extend learning by
adding resources

13. The Director helps to create
the storylines that can be
acted out or creates them

14. You will take on the role of The Director when your
child needs help to create storylines and play
ideas. Observing from a distance, look for the non-
verbal and verbal communication cues that your
child needs help and act accordingly, as the
purpose of The Director role is to keep the play
going

15. The Acting Coach plays
alongside the child in
order to teach play skills

16. Take on the role of The Acting Coach when your child
needs to learn how to play and/or use resources. The
Acting Coach shows, talks and demonstrates how to
use resources and themes because when children
don’t have the skills they may become frustrated and
abandon their play

18. The Actor participates at the
child’s request to play

19. You will assume The Actor role at the request of
your child. This role is different to The Acting
Coach as you follow your child’s lead. The
purpose of this role is to connect through play
and listen

20. The Audience comments from
outside the play and observes
what is happening

21. When in The Audience role you sit on the
outside of your child’s play so that you can
respond to your child’s play, comment on
learning, ideas and developments, and
give encouragement and praise

22. The Reviewer helps the child to
represent play visually by writing,
drawing, or photographing what is
happening

23. You take on the role of The Reviewer when
your child’s play is coming to an end and you
want to document it so that you can recreate
it or extend upon it at another time

25. Play is children’s work and its fun. But when you take
on these roles your child’s learning will be extended,
you will connect to your child, they will be engaged
in play for longer, and you will get things done.

26. Website: www.igniteearlylearning.com.au
Email: tracy@igniteearlylearning.com.au
Want more information?
For more tips on getting play
happening in your home, visit
our website and download