Last week the children began their own role-play game which started with a ‘tiger loose in the front room!’ To enhance their play I provided them with; a toy tiger (raided my son’s room!), a storage crate (cage) and a net to catch the tiger.
Well this kept them entertained all after noon. I watched as their game gradually evolved from ‘capturing a dangerous tiger and returning it to the zoo (repeatedly)’ to ‘caring for the tiger, who wasn’t scary anymore’. This week I thought the children might like a role-play vets providing them with the opportunity to ‘care’ for a range of animals. I raided the local Pet City for leaflets and designed some simple forms for the children to incorporate into their play.
We then rounded up all the furry ‘pet’ animals we could find and ended up with; dogs, guinea pigs, piglet, parrot, and a turtle family (it’s times like this that my daughter’s obsession with cuddly toys comes in handy!). I set up a waiting room and reception area and the vets surgery. I also had the added advantage of the older children being off of school, who I knew would want to join in (I am under strict instructions that I am not allowed to put their photos on the web, incase their friends should see) and through their involvement would help the younger ones to understand the various roles within the play.
Well the waiting room has been busy all week!
We’ve registered our pets, phoned up for emergency appointments, gone out on emergency call-outs……
…. had to have our animals stay at the vets overnight for operations…..
and wrapped and bandaged ….and wrapped and bandaged!
And now they’ve pinched the chairs and made a school in the hallway!
