Ice Cream Shop!

The Ladybug Kinder group are so creative and imaginative! One day, we went out into the forest and sculpted with polymer clay. I originally thought that the Ladybugs would create miniature fairies or other characters, but they surprised me! During this experience, I noticed that the common theme was creating tiny food.  
 
“I’m making a pizza for my dolly”
 
“I made a slug with a cupcake”
 
“This is an ice cream! Bubble gum on the bottom and birthday cake on the top! I added red for raspberry ice cream!”

 
This inspired me to set up a “Kinder Ice Cream Shop” after “Spa Time” one afternoon. Ahead of time, I made scented playdough with vanilla extract, a raspberry thriller teabag and a lemon tea bag to distinguish each ice cream flavour. When the Ladybugs saw me setting up the tables with the “ice cream”, sprinkles, scoopers and small paper cups, they jumped right in and got straight to work!  
 
In the beginning, the Ladybugs focused on forming and decorating their ice cream scoops by rolling, squishing, pinching, stacking and mixing the playdough.
 
“I put the decorations in the cups!”
 
“I’m putting stuff inside!”
 
“I’m putting mine in the freezer! Right now it’s hot!”
 
“Is the ice cream nice and fresh yet? Nope? Then it goes back in the cup”
 
“I’m adding a spooky colour to mine”

 To expand this experience, I added a cash register, fake money, and became the first ice cream shop customer! Adding customers to the play made this experience even more exciting and activated our imaginations.
 
“Pretend you asked for ice cream. How many scoops?”
 
“Would she like a cone or a cup?”
 
“Hello what would you like today? Come up! I have this many flavours”
 
“She wants Rainbow”
 
“She wants a blueberry sundae”

As the play continued, the Ladybugs added more and more NEW ideas!
 
One Ladybug said, “I have a great idea!” and added a metal plate and wooden spoon to use as the bell!
 
Another Ladybug announced, “ICE CREAM SHOP! ICE CREAM SHOP!” and decided to make a sign to advertise the shop!
 
A third Ladybug decided to open up a bank and designated himself as the police officer! He put on a costume to look the part.   

 This was a very collaborative experience that evolved as time went on! While our Ice Cream Shop employees were hard at work, they practiced so many valuable skills. They worked cohesively as a team, shared ice cream materials, waited patiently for their turns, learned new vocabulary, practiced basic math and creatively acted out different scenarios! 

If you're looking for some good ice cream, pop by the "Kinder Ice Cream Shop" for a DELICIOUS scoop!

​- Vita