[Childcare] Simple DIY ideas you can use for pretend shops
Shopping is exciting for both kids and adults, isn’t it?
Many preschools and kindergartens incorporate make-believe “shop” play so children can enjoy the fun of shopping.
One of the charms of shop play is that children can experience the joy of selling items they made themselves as shopkeepers.
This time, we’re introducing a variety of ideas you can use for shop play.
From classic foods to wearable items, plus ideas for cash registers and wallets—there are plenty of ideas to get kids excited!
Use these as inspiration and have fun with shop play!
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[Childcare] Simple DIY ideas you can use for a pretend shop (21–30)
Making houses out of thick paper (cardstock)
Here’s a guide to making an adorable cardboard house.
Use a ruler to sketch the house’s dimensions on the cardboard.
Carefully cut along the guidelines with scissors or a craft knife.
Add color to the cardboard using construction paper.
Cutting the construction paper with scissors is recommended, but tearing and pasting pieces might add a charming, handmade feel to the work as well.
Use glue to attach the parts and assemble them so they don’t fall apart.
Once you add the final decorations, your cute dollhouse is complete.
If you like, adding sparkly stickers or beads can make it even more charming!
[Pretend Play] 3D Shaved Ice
![[Pretend Play] 3D Shaved Ice](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5_O44oKs5rQ/sddefault.jpg)
Let’s make 3D shaved ice and play “shaved ice shop”! Crumple a sheet of newspaper into a ball, cover it with a coffee filter, and secure it in a container like a paper cup.
Use a straw to pick up watercolor paint diluted with water and drop it onto the coffee filter to add color.
This straw coloring activity is suitable for children around age 3 and up.
Layer several colors to make bright, beautiful shaved ice—highly recommended! Stick a straw or spoon into the side of the container to finish.
Make lots of different shaved ices and enjoy playing shop together!
Acorn Cake
How about making acorn cakes for an autumn craft activity? Use acorns you picked up during a walk or outdoor play to make cakes.
Use paper clay as the cake base and decorate with acorns.
If you use colors other than white for the paper clay, you can make cakes in all kinds of “flavors.” You can place the acorns on top like strawberries, sandwich them between layers of paper clay—there are many ways to decorate.
Making several small, cupcake-style cakes is also recommended.
Let your child’s imagination run wild and have fun playing!
buzzing top
This is a buzz-top that spins round and round when you pull the string.
Prepare the bottom or mouth section of a milk carton and use an awl or similar tool to make two holes in the center.
Thread kitchen twine through the holes and tie it.
Twist the string as if winding the top, then pull—your buzz-top will spin vigorously! If the twine is hard to thread, wrap the end with cellophane tape to help it slide through.
A plain milk carton can look a bit dull, so let your child decorate it freely with pens and stickers.
Snap Frog
A frog made from a milk carton takes a big jump! Cut off the bottom of a milk carton, flatten it, and trim it so it’s about 9 cm wide.
Make small slits along the fold lines of the carton, hook rubber bands into the slits so they bite in, and you’ve got a mechanism that stretches the bands when you press from above and springs up when you let go! Attach parts like eyes and ears to turn it into your favorite animal or character.
Be careful not to crease areas other than the original fold lines—if they bend, the carton will crumple when pressed and won’t jump as well.
parfait
Colorful parfaits that are fun just to look at are perfect for a summer craft.
First, place tightly rolled strips of newspaper into a paper cup, then pack paper clay on top and secure it with glue.
Next, put torn pieces of paper clay, glue, and water into a piping bag, knead it to make “whipped cream,” and create a cone shape from paper and masking tape to resemble soft-serve ice cream—then have fun decorating.
Try sauce made from glue and paint, Pocky sticks made from bamboo skewers, and more—let your ideas run free and enjoy!
Pizza and ice cream
Let’s practice cutting and gluing through making pizzas and ice creams that kids love.
First, cut out circles from light orange and red paper.
Layer and glue them to give a pizza-like look, and the base is ready.
Next, have the children cut construction paper over a small container made from a plastic cup.
The key is to prepare long, narrow strips of paper.
Glue the cut pieces onto the base as toppings, and the pizza is complete! To make ice cream, use a paper cup as a cone, place tissue paper inside, and glue the cut paper pieces on top as toppings to create a delicious-looking ice cream.
Felt Sandwich
You can make a “felt sandwich” using a puzzle mat.
First, prepare two pieces by attaching felt to mats cut into the shape of sandwich bread, and fix them in place with a gap between them.
Next, use felt to create various fillings that fit into that gap.
Make whatever you like—fruit sandwiches, egg sandwiches, ham, lettuce, and more.
Just slide the fillings into the bread and your sandwich is complete! It’s sure to make pretend play even more fun.
Perfect for button practice! Onigiri
Here’s an idea for felt rice balls that help kids practice buttoning! First, cut a rectangle from white felt and fold it.
Keeping the middle of the folded edge intact, cut it into a rice ball shape.
Make fillings like pickled plum or salmon and sew on snap buttons.
Sew matching snap buttons to the center of the rice ball’s inside as well.
Sew a two-hole button to the upper inside part of the rice ball, and make a slit on the opposite side.
Finally, glue a strip of seaweed cut from black felt to the outside, and you’re done! Attach your favorite filling and close the rice ball with the buttons to enjoy making onigiri.
Macaron
Let’s make cute, plump macarons out of felt! You might be wondering how to create that soft, round shape.
If you have a magnet or a plastic toy that’s just the right size for a macaron, use it as a mold.
Dilute some glue with water, brush it onto the felt, then drape the felt over the magnet (or other object).
Press it down from above with a cup, smoothing the wrinkles around the edges so they’re even, and let it dry as is.
Once the glue dries, it will slip off the magnet easily and hold its shape firmly.
Trim the edge, stuff the inside with finely cut felt pieces, and add a lid to complete one half.
Make another identical piece and sandwich “cream” between them.
