Sabin, Davis, Hetrick, Anderegg, Macalady, Waker, Darling and Katers

Role playing is fun and helps children be more comfortable during real life experiences.

You and the children will need a few things from around the house: An apron, chef’s hat made out of paper, real or pretend food, pretend stove, refrigerator, plates, napkins, silverware, table, centerpiece, soft background music, tablet for orders, menus, money or credit card, dress-up clothes, and stuffed animals or dolls for additional customers.

Kitchen restaurant

Locate the restaurant in your kitchen for easy cleanup. Think of a name for your restaurant. Make some play paper food or use real food. Discuss the jobs of each person: the greeter, waiter, cook, customer, and dishwasher. If your child is the customer first, the adult can model how to greet a customer politely with a smile, seat someone at a table, give a menu and mention today’s specials. Fill the glass with ice water. Explain what you are doing, use correct manners, and model how to treat others courteously. How do you ask politely for more water? What do you do when you drop your fork? This is a great opportunity to use quiet inside voices and teach stuffed animals and dolls how to behave in public. Show children where to place knives, forks, and spoons and how to use each one correctly.

Mention the daily specials. Practice ordering and printing it on a pad. Young children will scribble the order with great concentration. Practice serving from the left and clearing from the right. Model spilling a glass of water and cleaning it up. No one gets upset over the mishap. Everyone stays calm.

After the meal, the waiter adds up the bill. The customer looks it over, adds a tip, and pays. Everyone is calm, soft-spoken, and extremely polite.

Great expectations

Adults can only expect young children to succeed if we teach them and allow time for practice. Young children will behave better at restaurants and family gatherings if there is role playing first.

Families might take their young child to a real sit down restaurant for a special event like a birthday, even if it’s for milk and a dessert. Have a quiet conversation and just enjoy being with each other. Children’s museums often have restaurants for role play.

Other role plays might include: going to the theatre, grocery store, doctor’s office, church, hospital, hair salon, birthday party, post office, clothes shopping, bank, going on an airplane, or camping. Each one can be a good activity when grandparents provide child care on a rainy day.

Children really don’t like surprising experiences. Role playing will help children become more confident.

For more fun and learning with children see grandparents teachtoo.blogspot.com and wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons, Pinterest, Facebook, and You Tube.