Credit: Weekend Notes

Literacy such as text, signs, images and symbols that are located around the Cafe for example, menus, specials boards, business hours, open/closed signs, order forms, pricing, wireless hotspots signs and toilet signs. These are a great way for children to become familiar with this setting and the modes of communication that are used. Roles of the waiter, chef, barista, cashier and by learning what each one does and how they interact with each other, your child can act them out at home which will also help enhance their language skills and extend their vocabulary.

Credit: BobbyRabbit

A Learning Process

Learn the process of what happens when you’re eating out, and pay attention to literacy opportunities all around you. For example when you go to a Cafe:
1. You walk in and the waiter asks how many people are eating and sits you at a table, here you can let your child count how many people are eating at their table and can tell the waiter themselves which will develop their communication and numeracy skills.

Credit: 1001 Dinners

2. Then the waiter brings you menus and either shows you the specials board or names the specials – go through the the menu and specials board with your child so they can understand the difference between the specials and the menu.
3. Waiter asks if you would like to order drinks, let your child order their own drink. The waiter will bring drinks back and asks if you would like to order – let your child order their own food.

Various signs

4. While the chef cooks your food, try paying attention to all the signs in the Cafe setting such as toilets, wireless hotspots, business hours and open/closed signs. This will help them become familiar with signs that they see in everyday activities.
5. Waiter brings out the food and you start eating. Have a conversation with your child during a meal to develop their social skills.
6. When you’re finished, the waiter clears your table and gives you dessert menus and specials. Let your child have a read of this and go through the menu and specials with them.

Credit: TripAdvisor

7. Waiter comes back to your table and asks what you would like for dessert, takes order and gives it to the chef to prepare. Again, let your child order their own dessert.
8. Waiter brings dessert to table once ready. Engage in conversation again to enhance social skills.
9. Once you have finished eating dessert, waiter takes your plates and you ask for the bill. Let your child have a look at the bill so they are familiar of what a receipt looks like and also develop their numeracy skills by identifying numbers and price.
10. The waiter takes your payment to the cashier and your bill is paid, waiter returns with either your credit card or change. Explain to your child the process of payment in a Cafe setting.
This is an everyday activity with several opportunities for developing and enhancing literacy skills. It can be catered to any setting that you and your child eat at together.

Credit: Menulane

Simulate Literacy-Enriched Cafe Play At Home

* Keep materials that match the theme such as menus, cash register, notepads, pens, a small chalkboard with chalk, tablecloths, plates, cutlery and napkins in the play box.
* As a parent you can act as a customer in the Cafe and enhance the dramatic play experience for your child by extending their vocabulary and enhancing their language and communication skills.
* By ordering food, inquiring about price and pretending to pay for your food will enrich your child’s literacy and numeracy development.