A restaurant prop box should contain materials for children to experiment with the different roles involved in a restaurant business. Ask local restaurants to donate empty pizza boxes, take-out containers, cups, straws and menus. Recycle a long-sleeved, pocket T-shirt and turn it into an apron. Cut off the back, bottom and neckline of the shirt, then tie the sleeves around the child's waist. Tuck a small notepad and pencil inside the apron pocket. Turn a shoebox into a cash register, and cut paper money out of scraps of green construction paper. Customers can carry the money in donated purses or wallets, or you can quickly stitch two potholders together to make a purse.
Materials for a grocery store prop box are readily available. Parents can save empty food boxes, cans and bottles to stock the shelves. The Kids Craft Weekly online newsletter suggests making apples and oranges by scrunching sheets of tissue paper into balls and putting them inside a net bag. Stuff the legs of tan pantyhose with recycled newspaper to make long loaves of "bread." Fill plastic bottles with colored water to make "juice." Save grocery ads, receipts and paper bags to use in the store.
Recycle junk mail, outdated stamps, newspapers and extra invitations or thank you cards for a post office prop box. Have children draw pictures on the reverse side of index cards to make postcards. Cover empty cereal boxes with construction paper and label with children's names to create individual mailboxes. Children can carry "mail" in a donated tote bag and deliver it to other children or to the mailboxes.
Fill a doctor's office prop box with clipboards and old children's magazines for the "waiting room." Fill plastic bottles with colored water for "medicine." Do not recycle prescription bottles, as this may lead children to believe it is safe to play with real prescription bottles. Re-use file folders for patient "charts," and include a telephone for "parents" who may need to call the doctor's office. Cut white rags into squares and stuff them into an empty tissue box for patients who are "sick." Children's parents may donate scrubs or X-ray films for the prop box.