Today after school, one of the School Age One children couldn't contain his excitement. He had been eagerly anticipating his trip to McDonald's with his family, and the moment we came inside, he was ready to go! His enthusiasm was
contagious, and he quickly gathered his friends around, telling them all about his upcoming dinner adventure. "We're going to McDonald's!" he exclaimed.
Lucas’ imagination went into full gear. He grabbed some red paper, and with the help of an educator, stapled it into hats, and handed them out to his friends. “We’re all going to be McDonald's workers!” he said. His friends eagerly put on their hats, and the small group became a McDonald's crew, ready for a pretend meal.
Lucas took
the lead, assigning all his friends’ roles. “Okay, you're the chef!”, “And you, you take the money and I’ll hand out food!” Lucas carefully arranged the toy food, placing small figurines and plastic dishes in front of his friends. “This is the burger, this is the fries, and this is the drink,” he explained, as he lined up the toys and assigned each one a special meaning.
With each new role, Lucas encouraged his friends to act out their parts. “You need to make sure the burger is flipped just right,” he told another child, who laughed and pretended to cook the toy burger. “And remember, we need to make sure the customers are happy,” Lucas said, taking his position behind the "counter", ready to greet the “customers” (his friends).
As they played, Lucas’ language skills grew. He was able to use terms like "order," "menu," and "special," mimicking the words he’d heard at the restaurant. He also displayed leadership qualities, confidently guiding his friends, organizing the tasks, and making sure everyone was included. His friends followed his lead, excited to play along and become part of the fun.
The role play lasted for a good while, and through it, Lucas and his friends not only practiced his creativity and problem-solving skills but also developed social skills like teamwork and communication. He learned how to negotiate, assign roles, and use language in a meaningful context.
By the end of the day, Lucas had created a memorable experience for his friends, and the excitement for this dramatic play continued through the rest of the day.