Who wants some lemonade? I set up a pretend play or dramatic play activity each month and this month we are playing Lemonade Stand.
I started by setting up some of our play foam as a counter and constructing the Lovevery Easy Connect Fort set over it with a playsilk so it would look like a store canopy. I used a tablecloth to cover the counter and arranged all the accessories on top.
I wanted something that could act like a real drink dispenser for our Lemonade scented rice and pasta sensory mix from Readymade Play Canada. I thought a cereal dispenser would be a fun substitute for a drink dispenser. I found a cereal dispenser that would allow the rice and pasta pieces to flow through and set it up inside a tray, because there was guaranteed to be some spillage and overflow.
The other fun gadget I added was the Juicer that spins as you crank the wheel. Some of the rice falls through the strainer holes as you crank, giving it a very realistic feel.
Then I put some felt and acrylic fruit slices, resin ice cubes and wood fruit pieces in bowls and containers. All that was left was to add cups, pitchers and a wood container for a “honey pot”.
The finishing touches were from Paper Plane Educational Resources. I printed their Lemonade Stand bundle and used the banner, menus, illustrations, sequencing activity for how to make lemonade and the sales tracker. The illustrations are cute and straightforward and the activities are the perfect balance of education and fun for us.
The kids were thrilled to find this when they got home from school!! There was lots of screaming and excitement. They had a wonderful time making lemonade with the cereal dispenser, although I will warn that it was messy. I had to scoop rice off the floor a few times. I’m pretty comfortable with sensory mess now so it didn’t bother me, but if you’re concerned about the mess – I would recommend using a larger tray under the cereal dispenser.
Overall, this activity was a hug success for us. The kids have been very inspired by this play and now want to try a real Lemonade Stand this summer. 🍋☀️
Materials
- Lemonade SCENTED sensory mix – Readymade Play Canada. Note: this mix is from last year and I stretched it by adding a bag of pink painted rice to it. It still smells Heavenly!!
- Felt fruit slices and wood popsicles – Sewing Seeds Play (use code HOUSEOFPLAY10 to save)
- Wood & Acrylic Lemonade Stand sign and acrylic lemon slices – Stars and Sensory
- Lemonade Stand Printables – Paper Plane Educational Resources
- Resin Rainbow Glitter bowl and yellow spoon- Kidfolk and Co.
- Cereal Dispenser – Amazon
- Turning Juicer – Amazon
- Erzi Lemonade set (wood cups, straws, ice cubes and fruit pieces) – Nest
- Resin Ice Cubes – Playspiration (Instagram)
- Grimm’s wood stacking bowls
- Acrylic tray, plastic bowls, glass lemonade pitcher, plastic glasses, bamboo pestle, string lights – Dollarama
- Goki cash register – JS Rainbows
- Canopy – Lovevery Easy Connect Fort Kit and Sarah’s Silks play silk
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