Early Years Team
Autumn 2009
Ideas for Role Play: Gender Awareness
www.neelb.org.uk
Web Site Download
Ideas for Role Play: Gender Awareness
CDs/CD player,
Television, Ipod,
Gameboy, mobile phone
Variety of toys and
games to motivate both
genders e.g. cars, dolls,
teddies, robots,
superhero/ current
interest figures, board &
card games etc.
Desk items – pens,
pencils, felt tip pens,
paper, files, notebooks
Book/ magazine/
comic/ poster
selection to
encourage interest
from boys and girls
Dressing up clothes, e.g. slippers,
dressing gowns, pyjamas,
nightdresses with perhaps
superheroes or princesses theme
Hot water bottles with
current theme covers
e.g. Garfield, Gromit
etc.
Home
Bedroom
Role Play Ideas
Torches, lamps,
clocks of different
types, mirrors,
photographs in
various photograph
which might appeal to
frames, money
boys and girls
Blankets/duvets/ pillow
covers/ wallpaper/
borders/ mat/
wastepaper basket –
neutral or gender
specific colours/logos
boxes
Daytime clothes
suitable for both
Notice board with memo slips
etc. Signs such as ‘No entry’,
‘Do not disturb’
http://www.neelb.org.uk
genders
Toiletries, hair baubles
etc. make-up brushes,
jewellery & jewellery
boxes, empty perfume
bottles/ gel containers,
brushes, combs,
hairdryer, hair
straighteners
Page 1
Ideas for Role Play: Gender Awareness
Hats, work gloves &
boots of various colours
Clipboards, safety
waistcoats, guttering,
cement mixer, bricks,
trowels, nuts and bolts. tool
boxes & belts etc.
Links to stories,
e.g. ‘The Three
Pigs’, ‘Bob the
Builder & Wendy’,
‘The House that
Jack Built’ etc.
Photographs/ posters of
Tape measures, plans,
drawing table, maps,
home magazines
both genders working on
the Building Site
Desk & stationary
items
Building Site
Visits from parents
including females
involved in this area of
work
Role Play Ideas
Mobile phones,
ordinary phones,
walkie talkies,
calculator, computer
Traffic cones, bollards,
Various signs e.g.
loud haler etc.
‘mind your head’
Workbench, tools &
goggles
,‘construction site’
Mugs, newspapers, lunchboxes,
etc.
empty milk carton, flask, radio
http://www.neelb.org.uk
Page 2
Ideas for Role Play: Gender Awareness
Binoculars– variety of
colours/telescopes/kaleidoscopes,
magnifying glasses, compasses,
torches, maps
Rucksack, back packs – variety of
colours and design e.g. Dora the
Explorer, Diego etc.
Explorer’s Hut
Role Play Ideas
Clipboards, pens, notebook,
pencils, paper, diary,
sketch pad, fact file
Artefacts such as
bones, fossils, ceramic
pots etc.
http://www.neelb.org.uk
cameras, tape/ CD
with jungle noises
Ropes & hooks, crates,
cages for animals,
cuddly toys
Bug catchers, fishing
nets, oars & inflatable
dinghy
Explorer’s hat, gloves,
boots, waling stick,
clothes – all colours and
patterns, sunglasses &
sun cream
Walkie Talkies,
Tunnels & boxes to build with,
camouflage nets
Information books,
photographs, leaflets
& brochures, story
books related to the
jungle & explorers
representing both
genders
Tents, blankets,
sleeping bags
mock campfire,
cooking utensils,
flasks, lunch
boxes, water
bottles, first aid
kit
Page 3
Ideas for Role Play: Gender Awareness
Signs/ labels for items on
shelves, details of opening
hours, special offers,
please pay here, entrance,
exit etc.
Photographs/ posters of
both genders working in
the Garden Centre
Visits from parents/
members of the
community involved in
this area of work
Wheelbarrows
and tools such as
spades, rakes,
trowels, tape
measure, hoe,
watering cans,
buckets etc.
Note books, pencils, pens,
work diary, appointment
book/ cards
Plant pots (different
sizes), bulbs, seeds
and packets, plants,
flowers, seed trays,
hanging baskets
Within Garden Centre
area – café/ florists/
gift shop/ Seasonal
shop with associated
Garden Centre
Role Play Ideas
items
Lawn mower, parasols,
garden furniture and
ornaments, barbeque &
utensils, compost and
compost bins
Gardening clothes/
overalls, wellington boots,
gardening tool belt,
tabbard
Fencing, bricks,
Gardening books &
magazines, seed/ flower
catalogues, reference
books
http://www.neelb.org.uk
Till, money, credit card
machine, made credit cards,
cheque books
Telephone, mobile
phones, walkie
talkies, camera
paving, gravel,
bark, trellising
Page 4
Ideas for Role Play: Gender Awareness
Vacuum cleaner, microwave,
clock, toaster which pops up,
timer with buzzer,
telephones, mobile phones,
cameras
Photograph albums/
posters of both genders
taking on various roles in
the home
Toy/ fishing/football, car/
hairdressing/ wedding magazines,
various popular comics & annuals,
newspapers, assorted recipe books
depicting chefs from both genders
Birthday party items
which reflect the
interests of boys & girls
e.g. paper cups, plates,
tablecloth, wrapping
Real food, cutlery,
crockery, utensils,
place settings (perhaps
with cartoon/ sporting
hero emphasis)
paper, banners etc.
Purses, wallets, bags, in
various colours and designs
Tool boxes, paint
brushes,
cleaning utensils, rubber
gloves, aprons of various
kinds
Dressing up clothes for both
genders e.g. jackets, hats,
waistcoats, dresses, skirts, TShirts. sweatshirts depicting
various male & female icons/
superheroes, iron & ironing board
http://www.neelb.org.uk
Home Corner
Role Play Ideas
Visits from male & female
parents/ carers with their
baby
Brushes, hair gel,
mirrors, empty
aftershave bottles
and sprays, ribbons &
clips etc.
Pens, notepads,
memo boards,
shopping lists, ‘to do’
lists, telephone/
address books of
differing designs
Boy & girl dolls, baby
bath, sponges, clothes,
buggies, cots, toys
appropriate to both
genders
Page 5
Ideas for Role Play: Gender Awareness
Male & Female Uniforms –
doctors, nurses,
paramedics, auxiliaries
etc.
Scales, height chart, wall
chart of different body
parts
Bed, blankets,
bedside table,
lamp, books, toilet
bag, towel, dressing
gown
Signage such as
Accident and
Photographs/ posters/
books depicting males &
females in various
aspects of hospital
employment
Visits from family
members from both
genders involved in this
area of work
Emergency, ‘Please
wait here’, ‘Nil by
mouth’
Hospital
Role Play Ideas
Further areas
created such
Operating Theatre,
Ambulance, Waiting
Area, Canteen etc.
Medical equipment such as
syringes, bandages,
stethoscopes, X-rays,
oxygen masks, rubber
gloves, thermometer, face
mask, hospital gowns etc.
Computer, phone, headphones,
junk X-ray machine
http://www.neelb.org.uk
Girl & boy babies and
associated items such
as nappies, blankets,
baby clothes, cuddly
toys, baby bath etc.
Clipboards, prescription
pads, notebooks, charts,
medical cards, pens,
name badges, get well
cards, magazines
Page 6
Ideas for Role Play: Gender Awareness
Male & Female Uniforms –
doctors, nurses,
paramedics, auxiliaries
etc.
Scales, height chart, wall
chart of different body
parts
Bed, blankets,
bedside table,
lamp, books, toilet
bag, towel, dressing
gown
Signage such as
Accident and
Photographs/ posters/
books depicting males &
females in various
aspects of hospital
employment
Visits from family
members from both
genders involved in this
area of work
Emergency, ‘Please
wait here’, ‘Nil by
mouth’
Hospital
Role Play Ideas
Further areas
created such
Operating Theatre,
Ambulance, Waiting
Area, Canteen etc.
Medical equipment such as
syringes, bandages,
stethoscopes, X-rays,
oxygen masks, rubber
gloves, thermometer, face
mask, hospital gowns etc.
Computer, phone, headphones,
junk X-ray machine
http://www.neelb.org.uk
Girl & boy babies and
associated items such
as nappies, blankets,
baby clothes, cuddly
toys, baby bath etc.
Clipboards, prescription
pads, notebooks, charts,
medical cards, pens,
name badges, get well
cards, magazines
Page 7