Because the Royal Wedding is happening on a school night, I won’t be able to stay up and watch. But I have been thinking about how this much-publicized event could relate to readiness for kindergarten. Perhaps, it’s the way that so many people come together to celebrate; that’s learning about social behaviors. Maybe it’s all the traditions that make us part of a larger group. One possible activity could be dressing up or reading stories about princes and princesses. Then I thought of something really fun that has all kinds of kindergarten readiness learning: a tea party.
Children as young as 2, perhaps even earlier, love to imagine and play pretend. A tea party has lots of scope for imagining, even if the food served is quite real. Teddy bears can be guests or grown-ups or friends might be invited. Older children can color and draw invitations. Planning a menu means practicing organizing and other skills. There’s all kinds of language play and social interaction. Kids practice math as they count out, add and subtract the plates and cups, and solve other problems of how many. Kids explore different behaviors and other roles. Best of all, a tea party is royally fun. How do you take your tea?