Remember the fantasy involved in a tea party? You’d invite your sister, your best friend or even just your toys. As the hostess you would gather the necessary supplies. Biscuits from the pantry if you were lucky or leaves and flowers from your garden would become gourmet treats thanks to a good imagination.
Your guests would sit in your playroom, where lots of chatting would be done in between nibbles and sips of cold tea, juice or water. I always remember being such a lady in this game, pretending to be much older than my preschool years. Of course, no lady would come to tea without the proper handbag, jewellery and borrowed high heels from Mum’s cupboard.
Today’s kids are lucky to have assistance from electronics to help them bake a virtual cake or dress a doll on their DS. But to see them engage with their friends, giggling as they pour the tea and creating their own world is something we should encourage.
These kinds of games also expose our kids to a world of varying careers. Their curiosity is triggered and so does their dream to turn into real life one day. Maybe this is the first step in creating the future cooks and restaurant owners. I say bring back the tea set, assemble the teddies and release your high heels!