Hands down this dessert bar play center is one of my preschooler’s favorites. It was available for a month this past March/April and played in every single school day.
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Supplies To Collect
No store is off-limits when gathering supplies for this tasty dramatic play center. Since it’s easy to find play food and kitchenware sets, the center is pretty effortless to put together.
Items in this dessert bar are:
- a variety of cupcakes and cookies
- brownie set
- muffins
- pie
- cake slice
- disposable plates
- cutlery
- cups and saucers
- food trays
- coffee brewing set
- cash register
- play money
- vase with flowers
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The Dessert Bar Play Center
A shelving unit showcases the desserts beautifully.
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A table and chair set make a cozy area to “eat” dessert. A mammoth mom and baby joined in this setup!
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A play coffee brewing set is nice to have. Mine came from a discount store, and the children loved making and serving coffee with it.
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This elegant little tray was a happy find at a dollar store, and I snapped up a few. They weren’t available long, so I’m sure other people realized how special they were too. The shiny trays showcase the desserts well.
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A sign and menu posted on a wall indicate the type of restaurant and what is served. Pictures of desserts accompanied by captions help create an ambiance.
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The menu is helpful to check prices and see how much to pay for orders. When the food is laid out like a chart, it makes it easy for preschoolers to add up how much an order costs.
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Benefits Of The Dessert Bar Center
Aside from counting and addition opportunities, this center allows children to make choices by selecting desserts. And they can practice turn-taking and role-playing by being the server and the customer.
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Enhancing The Dessert Bar
After a few days, setting out a new dessert such as a play cake set would help keep children’s interest in the center going. And pictorial signs attached to shelving cubicles would enhance the literacy component and give opportunities for sorting and matching desserts. Can you think of anything else to add?
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This dessert bar play center is bound to be a hit with your little learners. Just a few supplies provide many opportunities for vibrant learning through play. Start out with economical play food, such as dollar store cupcake and cake sets. The selection of desserts need not be elaborate…children will love the center no matter how big or small it is.
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Related: Winter Wonderland Tablescape
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