Seeking Part-Time Employment

Haba play food at the Quarry Lake location.

It's really not all that surprising that when asked at five what I wanted to be when I grew up that I responded, "a part-time checkout lady." After all, what kid doesn't love all the buttons on a cash register, the cool embossing on credit cards and the barcode scanner -- which to me still seems like magic.

Haba play food at the Quarry Lake location.

My mom and dad used to set up the kitchen just like a grocery store with my pretend play food. I would walk from "aisle" to "aisle" looking for whatever goods I was running low on in my kitchen set. If I determined I needed something, I would carefully put it in my shopping cart and proceed to check out. Then I'd switch roles and be the cashier.

Yellow Label Kids vegetable rattle set.

 Thinking back, I learned so much playing store. I would push buttons and love the instant feedback, I would write lists to help keep my shopping trip organized, and when I got older, I would put price tags on the play food and count the cost and make change with my play money.

Play now is preparation for later. Unfortunately,  just because I remembered the milk when I was five doesn't mean that I didn't forget to pick it up last week! Now that I'm older, I realize that part-time employment won't pay my student loans or get me health insurance, so I opt for full-time work instead. It is funny though that my real full-time job still has something to do with pretend play food and cash registers!

Melissa & Doug Shopping Cart

Comments

[Anne]

Aw, I love this!

[aMuse Toys]

Thanks Anne. :-)