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鈥淚n play, a child is always above his average age, above his daily behavior; in play it is as though he were a head taller than himself.鈥� So wrote Lev Vygotsky, the Russian pioneer of child development and a champion of imaginative play. Researchers have continued to develop this theory, finding that children or pretend to be someone else. So it makes sense, then, that during the many times in a day when we ask kids to follow directions, we can turn to their imaginations for positive outcomes.

Purposeful Play for Productive Classrooms

Although it might seem counterintuitive to play your way to better behaviors, thinking that it might lead to chaos in the classroom, research shows otherwise. Studies show that children become more when they engage in guided play. When they make-believe with adult support, it builds their executive function, growth mindset, and social skills.

So, even as you gamify your classroom cleanup routine, or lining up for recess, for instance, know that the students are practicing a whole host of abilities that will set them up for positive outcomes. In addition, , and students are more likely to remember and repeat the desired behavior (such as a speedy clean-up) when it is delivered in a novel, fun format.

5 Drama Games to Reinforce Classroom Routines

1. Follow the Leader (to move throughout the day). Every day, there are inevitable transitions that require moving your class from place to place. But what if a journey to the yard or the art room could involve an element of play? A version of could accomplish this.

Start with yourself as the leader, modeling different ways to move quietly: jumping, on tip-toes, skipping, trudging. You can add more elements of dramatic play with the words 鈥渁s if鈥濃�攆or example, 鈥渁s if I were a superhero鈥� or 鈥渁s if I were a sloth鈥濃�攃alling out the different cues as you move. Once the class gets the hang of the game, let a student be in front. Incentivize students鈥� excellent behavior or work with the prize of being the Follow the Leader-leader.

2. Simon Says (for following directions). Simon Says is a classic and lively game that you can also use to move through your classroom routines. Weave in prompts that you want your students to follow. Just like in regular game play, find times to not say 鈥淪imon Says.鈥� For example, if you want your students to stand up, push in their chairs, and come to the rug, play your way through by saying:

• 鈥淪imon says, 鈥楽tand up.鈥欌��
• 鈥淪imon says, 鈥楾ouch your nose.鈥欌��
• 鈥淪imon says, 鈥楶ush in your chair.鈥欌��
• 鈥淗op on one leg. Oh, Simon didn鈥檛 say!鈥�
• 鈥淪imon says, 鈥楬op on one leg to the rug!鈥欌�� Mission accomplished!

Additionally, this game supports executive function skills such as working memory and attention switching. To be even more playful, instead of Simon, be someone from literature that your students know, and invite them to also be characters from that world. Think Mr. McGregor and a bunch of bunnies or Trunchbull and the kids of Crunchem Academy.

Since students are using their imaginations, they have incentive to listen, retain the directions, and stick with the challenge. 鈥�,鈥� says Stephanie M. Carlson, professor at the Institute of Child Development.

3. Restaurant (for eating in the room). Often, students need to eat lunch in the classroom, and that gets messy. Whether it鈥檚 a rainy day or a birthday celebration, set up a routine through imaginative play with the game . Students can take turns being waiter, ma卯tre d鈥�, or patron.

Since this is an improvisation, kids can also decide on who their customer-character is, be it superhero, princess, or cat. They choose what they 鈥渙rder,鈥� what they chat about, and the magical currency with which they pay. Research shows us that kids , so it makes sense that inside a game, the characters would know to bus their table like a waiter or keep their napkins in their laps as a customer would.

4. Wind-Up Clean Up (for a tidy classroom). Whether it is asking kids to put away materials or tidy their desks, games are here to help. Play , where students become cleaning robots with a pretend mechanism on their backs that powers them up. With the simple turn of an imaginary key, they go about their cleaning tasks exceedingly fast and efficiently.

These superhuman powers become even more playful when, mid-clean, these robots 鈥渂reak down.鈥� As the kids glitch, they could go backward, in slow motion, making funny noises, etc. Keep the pretend play alive with a creative solution鈥攁 magic elixir, a chant, or simply a new wind-up. Continue this game until the classroom is sufficiently tidy.

5. Sneaky Tag (to put away materials). Another option for playful clean-up is a version of Night at the Museum, or something I call , where kids start as frozen statues. When your back is turned, they stealthily move through the classroom as spirited, wily 鈥渄o-gooders,鈥� putting away materials.

You can play the role of a 鈥済uard,鈥� a curmudgeonly, messy character who might turn around at any moment to catch the statues coming to life. When the kids freeze, they are rendered invisible. The game ends victoriously when the magical moving statues have cleaned up the room and made their way back to their desks. The guard is foiled again, and your classroom is straightened up.

Ultimately, relationships between students and teacher are the bedrock of successful classroom management. When you ask for playful participation, rather than compliance, it can boost your students鈥� morale and engender trust. Your ability to turn mundane tasks into opportunities for laughter, self-esteem, and camaraderie goes a long way toward a successful classroom.

We want to know鈥攄o you use games to help with classroom routines? Tell us about them in the comments.