HOW TO ENTERTAIN KIDS -- The Sharket

A fun, sorta wet way to buy groceries

ADDED August 31, 2008

Where do creatures of the sea shop for groceries?  At the Sharket, of course!

First, designate a place in the house to be the Sharket.  Then, have your kids gather up all the sea creatures in your home.  These ocean animals could be stuffed animals, plastic toys, dolls from the Little Mermaid, or even pictures.  (If you find you don't have any sea creatures at all, your kids could make some with their art supplies.)

After the sea animals have assembled, then find all the play food in your house.  Again, use whatever you can find . . . and make more if needed.

Once the animals and food are in the Sharket, each kid takes a turn to help an animal buy an item of food.  "Look, my octopus chose an eggplant."  It's good to talk about which foods the animals would like and which foods the kids do like.

And this is quite important:  in a Sharket, the customers and employees don't walk around. They have to move in 'water ways,' such as swimming, splashing, wading, floating, and so on.  This is a good opportunity to talk about different words that mean moving in the water.  (No actual water is required here, of course.)

Try the Sharket at your house today.  And see how your kids can have fun with sea food.

ages 2-7, good at home,