You can repurpose an empty shelf with drawers and create a service window, just like in a real restaurant. You can use silver spray paint to create “stainless steel” appliances. You can create a restaurant made out of paint and cardboard. You can make a blanket fort that can be the kitchen, and serve your customers through a blanket curtain. You don’t necessarily need to build an actual restaurant. Use your imagination to transform a couch into a serving area and a low table into the kitchen area.
Once you decide on the name, create a sign displaying the name. Color in the sign and decorate it, and practice your handwriting by writing the sign yourself (with your parent’s help, of course).
Of course, you can decide to serve whatever type of food you like, no matter the time of day. This is pretend, after all!
A more versatile approach would be to type up a blank menu and laminate it. Then, you can use dry erase markers to write down the menu for the day. Also, with the help of your parent, you can work at the computer to come up with a typed menu together, play with font and color, and print out a custom menu for the restaurant. You can also use clip art or photos of food from magazines and glue them to the menu. If you decide to use the computer to create the menu, create another document to make a mock up of a receipt. It will make the paying aspect of playing restaurant seem more real, and add another fun element to the game. [2] X Research source
You can break down the menu into entrees, sides, desserts, and beverages. This may make it easier to decide how many items should go on their menu.
If you’re a parent helping to plan the menu, try to sneak in some healthy items on the menu, if possible. Make suggestions like sliced apples instead of French fries, milk instead of soda, a fruit cup as a side, or a smoothie as a beverage option. Look for ways to use the restaurant game to keep your children entertained and educate them on food.
You can also create placemats and napkins for the table to match the design of the menu.
Get creative and add textures to the play dough to create different foods. If you don’t get it quite right on the first try, simply roll up the play dough and start over.
Watch out for paper cuts and sharp corners!
Think about how to prepare the “imaginary” ingredients, including washing, slicing, and dicing the “food”. Describe the “imaginary” dishes on the table to your parent, including specific ingredients in each food item or beverage.
Practice how you would act as the customer, the server, and the cook with the menus and the play food. But don’t worry too much about sticking to a realistic restaurant scene. Just have fun and get creative in each role.
Don’t forget to incorporate the pretend receipt you made into the paying of the bill. And of course, don’t forget to reward a great pretend meal at your restaurant with a good tip.
