HAIR SALON/BARBER SHOP PRETEND PLAY
Let’s cut hair! Not only is your child pretending to be a hair stylist/barber- they are also having fun while practicing scissor skills! Make a hair salon or a barber shop in the easy steps below.
After a trip to the hair salon my daughter said it would be fun to “cut hair”. We added onto a previous activity we did before. Instead of just cutting hair, we created a hair salon out of a cardboard box too. This is a great all afternoon or broken up into a few days activity. We made a hair salon and then played with it off and on for over a month.
Supplies:
- small paper plates (dessert)
- markers
- crayons
- scissors
- construction paper
- cardstock paper
- clay (non-hardening)
- printer
- cardboard box or poster board
To begin, make a list of what all is in a hair salon or barber shop. Chairs, mirrors, sink, scissors, brush, blow dryer, waiting room, magazines, and plants, etc.
Hair Salon/Barber Shop:
Create the salon/barber shop out of a cardboard box (you can also make out of poster board if no box). If making out of poster board, fold each side 2-3 inches from the outside. Cut a slit on each end and overlap the corners, then tape together. *This is optional part, but adds more fun.
To start, make the floors. We picked a simple block pattern and colored it (reviewed pattern). Second, add furniture. Use construction paper to make chairs and tables. Third, accessorize! Look at the list made above and search for images (clipart black & white) on google. Place images in a document and print. Make sure they are the right scale with furniture and people. We also made an open/closed sign and a door that opened and closed into the salon.
Customers (People):
Create faces on paper plates. Don’t take a lot of time on the faces because you will go through a lot. We made them have all different kind of faces (silly, serious, mad, happy etc.).
Print out the template below for the bodies. We colored in the bodies with crayons and then went back with a black sharpie to add details. Cut out the bodies and bend them at the waste (sitting position) once colored.
To be able to switch heads easily on the bodies, use non-hardening clay as a base. Make sure to leave a tab (neck) on the paper plate heads. Place the neck/tab in the clay (see example below). Your heads will now stand upright, then place body in front of it. Notes: Clay will leave an oily residue since non-hardening. We used a plastic cup for a garbage can.
Time to Play!
Once the Hair Salon was complete- the fun begins! The waiting room becomes full of customers. They can open the door and come right in! Once a customer is done, change their head and a new customer comes back.
Happy creating & playing!
MAT Create 
