A play shop with lots of accessories is a great gift for children, as it allows them to really let off steam while role-playing. However, these are often not exactly cheap, and sometimes the accessories don't feel 'real' enough for the children. But in this article, you will find plenty of ideas on how you can make a wonderful play shop and accessories without spending a lot of money:
The Play Shop
You don't always have to buy an expensive play shop. With a little imagination and skill, beautiful 'shops' can be made from household items. Children usually like these much better because they look more authentic.
Child's table as a sales counter
If there is a child's table or a small coffee table in the house, it can be used wonderfully as a play shop. Goods can be offered on it using small (shoe) boxes or mom's plastic bowls.
Cushions as shelves
If you don't have a child's table, you can also build shelves with cushions and distribute the goods on them.
Setting up crates or baskets
Another possibility is to set up large crates, boxes, or baskets as if at a market, where the products can be placed. If you like, you can also turn the crates upside down so that the goods can simply rest on top.
Accessories for the play shop
The accessories for a play shop don't have to be bought new at a toy store. Just keep your eyes open around the house; there are wonderful little things here that you can reuse as goods for children, which also helps to sensibly reduce waste.
Thread spools
Don't throw away empty thread spools; instead, cover them with new labels. Paint and stick on the labels yourself, or carefully peel them off other food items, trim them, and stick them onto the thread spools so they look like tin cans.
Cardboard packaging
Stuff cardboard packaging from tea, cookies, muesli, or chocolates with newspaper and cover them with transparent tape.
Plastic bottles
Thoroughly wash out plastic bottles from drinking yogurt or cream and reuse them as products for the play shop.
Yogurt cups
Wash out the empty yogurt cups and lids well. For the lid, cut out a cardboard disc of the same size and stick it onto the yogurt cup lid to make it stronger and hold better. Then glue this onto the yogurt cup so the yogurt looks like new again.
Fruit, vegetables, sausage, or cheese made from salt dough
Admittedly, this version is a bit more elaborate, but it looks very real. Make a salt dough for fruit, vegetables, sausage, or cheese, shape the desired products, let them dry, and then paint them with acrylic paints.
Fruit and vegetables made from modeling clay
Another way to make fruit and vegetables yourself is with modeling clay. You can create beautiful works of art for the play shop with this modeling clay. Buy Fimo Air Basic as modeling clay, as well as acrylic paints. Fimo Air Basic is available in craft stores or here on the internet at staedtler.de.
Knead the desired fruit and vegetables with the modeling clay, let them dry – perhaps in the oven, then it goes faster. When it is completely dry, paint it with acrylic paint and you're done with wonderful unique pieces for the children's play shop.
Filling small plastic containers
I got this tip from my children: Simply fill small plastic containers (I use small freezer containers for herbs) with pasta, soup pearls, or other small things and set them up.
Cash register and money
You don't necessarily have to buy a new cash register or play money. Here are a few ideas so that the sold goods can also be paid for properly:
Wallet
A wallet might remind one more of a waiter, but our children thought it was great that they were allowed to have a big wallet like their parents.
Calculator
If the children still want to type, you can use an (old) calculator.
Money
Of course, you can use real cent coins as money. You might want to wash them beforehand so they are clean. Old vouchers that look like real banknotes are very suitable as banknotes, or you can print some out. It is also fun if you have (old) gift cards, which then serve as credit cards or ATM cards.
Baskets and fabric bags
So that the buyer can also take their goods with them, baskets and bags (preferably fabric bags) should be ready.
The children are already wonderfully involved just through the preparations, and you will see how creative our little ones can be! So have fun buying and selling!
Read also:Â Crafting with Children Using Cloud Slime
Photo by meinhaushalt.at
