Put simply, role play is pretending to be somebody, pretending to do something, or pretending to be somewhere else. Or, all three!
It’s a really important and enjoyable way to learn something new. Think about it. HR and training professionals worldwide use it as an engaging technique to instil new skills in adults. For example, when you’re acting out a customer complaint, to learn how to handle a tricky situation.
Children do it naturally, because it’s so much fun! But, in certain environments, the art of role play can be encouraged further to bring little imaginations to life.
When your child is engaged in role play, to them, it doesn’t feel like learning in the traditional sense. Why? Because they’re enjoying themselves too much to notice how they’re growing and developing as a result!
Role play has so many educational benefits for children. They get to step into somebody else’s shoes to think and behave differently to how they do in everyday life. This gives them the confidence to try new experiences.
Role play facilitates learning. Alongside others, children discover how to self-regulate, co-operate, empathise, lead, take direction, solve problems, and tolerate others. All in the safety of their imaginary world.
Unlike soft play centres, The Play Village isn’t a place to run around – climbing and letting off steam. It’s a magical learning environment where imagination rules.
Here, you and your children are free to explore our eight play pods that represent life-like settings. Everything from a fire station to a hairdressing salon.
Using play props and costumes, your child can pretend to care for a sick patient in our make-believe hospital. Or, impersonate a bossy business leader in our fictitious office.
The Play Village is a family business. Designed, built, and managed by parents. That means, we know what you – and the children you look after – might want from a play venue. And more importantly, what you don’t want.
It was born out of a desire to escape the loud, high-energy, physically demanding, soft play centres that often leave children more revved up than when they arrived.
Instead, we’ve created an alternative space for you and the children in your care. It’s an experience that’s centred around the magic of role play. Where your children can let their imaginations run wild.
We want you to have a stress-free time with us, where you don’t have to worry about the welfare of your children. A couple of hours where you can relax, or play with your child – in a friendly, safe, clean, and calm environment.
After speaking with the mums and dads of Ashbourne, we think you’ll love The Play Village as much as we do!
The Play Village consists of eight play pods that are life-like settings designed to ignite the imagination of young children.
In The Play Village you’ll find: a building site, a café, a fire station, a hairdressing salon, a hospital, an office, a supermarket, and a veterinary surgery.
Children can wonder freely in and out of each play pod, pretending to help a poorly dog that’s broken its leg, or impersonating Daddy doing the weekly shop. Wherever their imagination takes them!
Each play pod has been thoughtfully designed to facilitate role play. There are play props and costumes in abundance, to bring their imaginary characters to life. Our play helpers are also on hand to help children get the most of their role play journey.
This isn’t a soft play setting. So, you won’t have to climb nets, dive into a ball pit, or burrow down a tunnel. You can either join in with the role play fantasy, or grab a cuppa at our relaxing café. Whatever suits.
Operating a sustainable business is a very important goal for us.
We don’t want to destroy the planet for generations to come.
That’s why we try our hardest to do our bit for the environment. After all, the children who come to play at our venue, are our future.
We’ve designed and built of premises with sustainability in mind.
We try to reduce the waste we produce.
We make sure our waste is disposed of properly.
We recycle our waste as much as we can.
Where possible, we aim to use local, seasonal produce in our café.
We encourage local staff and visitors to walk to The Play Village, if they’re able to.
We try to buy toys and play props that have been ethically made.
We welcome feedback from all our visitors, on how we can be even greener than we are today!