2 1/2 years old

Playing Shop

19:45

One of Ethan's favourite games to play lately has been 'shop'.  Often when we're at the playground or at home he'll decide that he wants to play, and immediately take on the role of the shop keeper, asking what I want to buy.  It's fantastic for his Creative Development as he just jumps into a world of imaginative play so easily.


Usually we just play with imaginary food, money and cash register and he loves it.  Today I decided to take out a cash register that he got as a gift a few months ago and I was saving until he was a bit older.  He was so excited!  We also got out a bunch of his play food, a shopping basket, a shopping bag, some play money and made some receipts.  Then we set up his shop and got started playing.  He loved having the props to use for his play and used them exactly as he did with the imaginary objects.  It was great to watch.  The bonus to using real objects is that I was able to extend his learning.  I was able to explain paying and giving change as well as what a receipt is for (he's always loved holding them, but I'd never actually told him what they said).  We also played with some of the food, after I bought several things and put them back, we decided that he should organise his shop.  So we did some sorting of food into different categories; fruit, vegetables and bread.  It's funny because we talk about fruit and veg all the time, but we've never actually done any sorting with it.  I was pleasantly surprised when I asked him which pile each food should go into and he was able to identify every one!  It really is incredible the things that they pick up from day to day activities, I love that he learns when I don't even realise that I'm teaching him!

You Might Also Like

4 comments

  1. Ah, weird, I have an Ethan and we did shops the other day too! :) We don't have a fancy shop like yours though!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is what my sons fave play too! He would even draw those self paying till! And he would talk in different tones playing everyone like shop keeper and buyer. I love it when he plays this! This made him want to always pay when we are in real shops and I think he is memorizing the events in his head so that he can replay it in his play =) #LetKidsBeKids

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shop play is great for children to learn and have fun at the same time. My kids love playing shops too.
    Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids

    ReplyDelete
  4. My two love playing shops too with their cash register, my eldest wants a post office now! #letkidsbekids

    ReplyDelete

Like us on Facebook