Shopkeeper Pretend Sell

What you need

• a few tins or boxes from the cupboard
• a small bag or basket

How to do it

1. Line up 3-4 tins or boxes as 'shop stock'
2. Ask your toddler to be the shopkeeper
3. 'Buy' an item by asking for it by name
4. Swap roles so they get to shop too

Why it matters

Playing shopkeeper means listening to a request and finding the right item, which strengthens both listening and following instructions.

What they're learning

following requests

Finding the exact item you ask for practises holding an instruction in mind, the same skill behind following directions at nursery.

role swapping

Taking turns as buyer and seller builds flexible thinking about other people's perspective.

item recognition

Naming and sorting tins by what they are builds early vocabulary for categories and objects.

What to look for

Watch for them correcting themselves if they hand over the wrong item — that shows they're checking their own work.

A tip

Use unbreakable items only and let them handle the 'money' too, even if it's just pretend coins or buttons.

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