10/11/2025
⭐️ THE THERAPY ROOMS MINI MART ⭐️
Whether we’re an SLT or OT, everyday activities like shopping are full of rich learning opportunities!
🧠 Why we love it:
Shopping routines build executive functioning, fine motor skills, social communication, and numeracy concepts — all in a meaningful, real-world context.
💬 In The Speech Room:
⭐️Practising asking for help and making requests (“Can I please have…?”)
⭐️Using sequencing and retelling skills to plan the shopping trip (“First we get fruit, then milk…”)
⭐️Expanding vocabulary around categories (fruit, dairy, snacks) and attributes (heavy, round, cold)
⭐️Exploring money language — “How much?”, “costs”, “change”, “expensive/cheap”
🤸♀️ In The Move Room:
⭐️Pushing a trolley or carrying a basket builds core stability and bilateral coordination
⭐️Picking items from shelves or counting coins strengthens fine motor control and hand–eye coordination
⭐️Practising planning and sequencing (“Find 3 items on your list”)
⭐️Using play-based money handling encourages numerical awareness and visual–motor skills
💡 Therapy idea:
Set up a “Mini Mart” in your clinic or classroom! Include picture shopping lists, real packaging, play money, and price tags.
Children can:
📝 Write or match shopping lists
💰 Count out money
🗣️ Practise polite exchanges with a “shopkeeper”
🏃 Move around to collect items
These playful experiences make functional learning stick — connecting movement, language, and real-life independence.
