No.191
Pretend Shop
Japanese name: お店屋さんごっこ
Materials
- Pretend goods made of paper
- Large paper money tokens
- Price labels
- Tables
- Bags for carrying the goods
How to play
- Agree on the type of shop and display the paper goods. Divide into shopkeepers and customers. Price each item at one to three money tokens.
- Give each customer five paper money tokens. Browse and ask for an item; pointing is welcome instead of speaking.
- Shopkeepers say how many tokens are needed, count and receive them with the customer, then bag and hand over the item. If the customer lacks enough tokens, help find something affordable.
- Close after about five minutes and swap customer and shopkeeper roles. Return the goods and money so everyone can experience both parts.
- Share purchases or shop ideas, then tidy up. Do not rank sales totals or numbers of purchases.
Ways to adapt
Preschool children: one token buys one item, with adults also acting as shopkeepers. Younger primary school children: use the main version. Older primary school children: add budgets or order forms.