I’m not sure who loves the little Ikea Kitchen at home more. Whether it is Azmu or me? With a pretty floral back drop, small steel utensils, wooden spoons, and a whole selection of colourful food items; some of which can be sliced in half (I know!), can you really blame me for wanting to spend time with her in her little kitchen. And in this kitchen, we take role play pretty seriously. I’ve already stitched a little apron for my mini chef to wear, and now this new café menu is a complete winner. She loves being in charge of her kitchen and is always asking us what can she cook for us. I thought this easy to follow picture menu card would be an interesting addition to her kitchen, and a great way to develop her role play skills.

Importance of Role Play

Role play is significantly important for your children in their early years. Here are 5 reasons why:

• It encourages children to use their imagination. With imagination comes creativity, and the ability to develop and use cognitive skills and abilities.
• It helps improve communication and language skills. Children will learn to use new words in the new environment. Ones that they’ve picked up by listening to adults or other children. It can also encourage team work in children.
• It is a safe environment to develop emotional and social skills. It provides children with the opportunity to pretend to be someone else and develop empathy. It provides an opportunity to express their emotions without being judged.
• It helps develop problem solving and thinking skills. Skills that they will need in their life for numerous everyday tasks.
• It supports motor skills, for example when children are running around pretending to be chased by dinosaurs. And even fine motor skills, for example when pretending to prepare a delicious tea party.

The Printable Café Menu

Here’s a downloadable version of the Café Menu (4” x6 ” in size), complete with bright and bold menu items. Do not worry, it doesn’t say ‘Sanjania’ on yours, but ‘Our Cafe’ instead. Feel free to print it out, ideally double sided, and use it the next time you are role playing with your child in his/her café. I have laminated mine and would suggest you to do the same. For older kids, you may also add prices next to the food items, which would be a wonderful way to practise numeracy skills and role play with pretend money.

Azmu has been using the menu card for a while now and I can already see her role play various different scenarios with me. For example, when she suggests I go for the Pizza instead because the Burger isn’t currently available. Or when she asks me what kind of fruits would I like in my fruit salad. It is so pleasing to see her develop her imaginative skills and improve on her language ones too.

That’s all folks

If you have loved this printable and used it, do tag me in your pictures (@mumzynotebook #mumzynotebook). And don’t forget to share it on your social media. It would mean the world to me. Also, more printables available on the website, by clicking here.

Disclaimer: The pictures have been used from the internet and are not my property.