Some of my favorite childhood memories include pretend play & imagination. In fact, pretend play just might be my love language. That’s a thing, right? I think it’s safe to say that I am doing all I can to pass down a love of pretend play to my girls because it’s just so fun to imagine with them! It really doesn’t take much for kids to get fully engrossed in play. I’m always amazed by their creativity! Wood chips become a peach pie and the ordinary slide at the park becomes a mighty fortress in a far away land.
You don’t need any fancy props for imaginative play, but I do think it is really fun to set the scene a bit. Bridgett has been begging to set up an airport, so this past week we finally made it happen. It was a huge hit at our house and I know your little one(s) will love it too! So grab your little pilot and get ready to set off on a fun filled adventure together. Here’s How to Create a Pretend Play Airport in 3 easy steps.
Step 1: Make a Ticket Counter
Use a table (kids play table, kitchen table, card table, etc.) to set up a ticket counter. Write “Plane Tickets” on a piece of construction paper and tape it to the front of your table. We like to pretend our cash register is a computer. You can also use other office supplies you have around the house (pretend phone, file organizer, etc.) to help set the scene. Get creative with what you have!
Step 2: Create the Airplane
To create the airplane arrange chairs in rows of two. You could even use a roll of white paper, construction paper and painters tape to create the plane windows on a wall in your home.
Step 3: Set up a Spot for Baggage Claim
Create a sign for your baggage claim area. We used our Kindergarten Toolkit Flashcards to create the Bags sign and then used construction paper to make an arrivals sign. It was a fun way to bring letter recognition and learning through play.
There’s so many great ways to incorporate learning into pretend play. Here’s a few ideas you can use with your pretend Airport:
- Create a Passport and/or Plane Tickets and give your little one the opportunity to practice writing skills by drawing on the passport and tickets.
- Introduce new vocabulary to your little learner
- Check In: Ticket Counter, Ticket, Ticket Agent, Arrival/Departure Monitor
- Security: Security Checkpoint, Security Guard, Metal Detector, X-Ray Machine
- The Gate: Boarding Pass, Gate, Waiting Area, Gift Shop, Concession Stand
- Baggage Claim: Baggage Carousel, Suitcase, Luggage Carrier, Baggage Claim Check
- Take turns playing different roles
You’re all set to pretend and play airport with your little one(s). Pretty easy, right? I hope you and your kiddos enjoy flying to faraway places together.
Love this Pretend Play Airport? Pin it for later!
Looking for other easy pretend play ideas? Check out this Pretend Play Garden Shop.
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