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By
Catherine M. Pruissen
This
centre will generate a lot of use from children. The
housekeeping area is a stage for dramatic play, from
acting out roles such as Mommy, Daddy or baby (understanding
their experiences better through abstract thinking),
to dressing up like Aunt Jeany (building small muscle
skills such as buttoning that teach self-help and
develop writing); or from cooking and cleaning to
shopping and playing restaurant. Simple
activities like washing dishes and sorting cups, plates
and silverware teach object categories helpful with
math.
HOUSEKEEPING
CENTRE MATERIALS
The
housekeeping centre can be put together from simple
furniture created out of cardboard boxes, like refrigerators
and stoves, or can be purchased as plastic, ready-made
equipment readily available at most toy and department
stores.
A
sturdy set of child-size table and chairs is a must.
Dress-up
clothing can be obtained from your own closet or by
taking the children on a trip to the second-hand or
thrift store to pick out an array of old shirts, dresses,
scarves, jewelry, hats, shoes, etc.
Kitchen
supplies might include egg cartons, margarine containers,
old measuring cups, utensils, empty cereal boxes,
and so on.
Basic
materials for a kitchen centre include:
- a
stove, refrigerator and sink
- small
tables and chairs
- pots
& pans utensils, plastic cups, bowls, plates, etc.
- an
ironing board & plastic iron
- a
broom & dustpan
- dolls
and a doll crib or cradle
- plastic
food items or empty food containers
- a
play phone
- play
dough, cookie cutters, rolling pins, oven mitts,
place mats etc.
- food
coupons
- play
money
- magazines,
newspapers,
- menus
- pencils,
note pads
- dress-up
items like shirts, skirts, dresses, pants, sweaters,
blouses, hats, scarves, ties, belts, purses, shoes,
jewelry, shawls, and
- a
full-length mylar mirror.
For
more information on setting up play centres in your
home or daycare centre, consult the wonderful book,
Start and Run a
Profitable Home Day Care, and check out these
other related articles:
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