CMOO’s Town Square: Learning Through Dramatic Play
At CMOO, our Town Square is more than just fun — it’s a vibrant learning environment where children engage in dramatic play, one of the most powerful tools for early development. Each interactive exhibit is designed to spark imagination while supporting real-world skills that align with early childhood learning standards and foundational elements of the Common Core.
Children who “work” at Riverwalk Pizza practice sequencing, counting, and early literacy by taking orders, following recipes, and recognizing food vocabulary. At the dentist’s office, they learn about health, body awareness, and community helpers while developing empathy and communication skills. The Farmers Market and Burke’s Hardware allow young learners to explore sorting early math concepts, all while practicing problem-solving in a social setting.
Research shows that dramatic play supports language development, self-regulation, social skills, and higher-order thinking — all of which are vital for later academic success. By offering spaces that reflect real-life scenarios, CMOO gives children opportunities to role-play, negotiate, take turns, and problem solve — practices directly tied to early literacy and math readiness in the classroom.
CMOO’s Town Square is not just a place to play — it’s a foundation for lifelong learning.
