Materials
slide bolts
barrel bolts
hasps*
drawer knobs
door locks with keys
hardware of other types and sizes
Instructions
1. Prepare a tea party. Gather some teddy bears,
stuffed animals, and dolls. Collect
dishes, pots and pans, tea cups,
and plastic food, and put the
items on a child-sized table.
Sit at the table and
prepare to play!
2. As a child plays nearby
with plastic food, ask for
some food or a cup of
tea. For example,
"Waiter, may I please
have a hamburger?"
3. After the child brings
you a "hamburger," ask for
the condiments. If you have
"tea," ask for cream and sugar.
4. Continue to add other items until
you have a full meal.
5. Ask the child to join you at the table. Initiate
a conversation about the food or any other topic. For example, ask, "How
is the weather outside?"
6. Pretend to need another item of food or some dessert. Ask the "waiter"
to bring you some dessert.
7. Be silly! Ask the child to bring you an elephant to eat. Play along with
the child as she figures out what to do.
8. Switch roles. You or another child can be the waiter.
More to do Math: Categorize the foods. For example, ask for all green food or all
sweets or all large food items.