The Office - Guidelines for the Activities

The write start - Jennifer Hallissy 2010

The Office
Guidelines for the Activities

LITTLE KIDS HAVE BIG PLANS. So naturally, they’re pretty comfortable with the thought of climbing the corporate ladder, even at a young age. Newbie VIPs quickly get the hang of pushing paper, sorting files, and holding meetings. And need I mention that corporate bigwigs do some big-time writing? Drafting memos, signing paychecks, writing reports, and composing contracts is all in a day’s work for young entrepreneurs. In fact, if you set them up with a nice, cushy corporate space (preferably a corner office, with a view), you might just find them minding their own business from nine to five.

MATERIALS

paper or legal pad

sticky notes

index cards

business cards

letterhead (see the chapter on “The Write Stuff”)

pens and pencils

stampers and ink pad

file folders

in and out box

old computer keyboard or laptop

old telephone or toy phone

briefcase

office attire for dress-up: blazers, neckties, high heels, and so on (optional)

HOW-TO

1. To start this play scenario off right, make a nameplate. Think along the lines of “Ms. Smith” or “Mr. Jones” with “The Boss” written underneath.

2. Show kids how to write, shuffle, stamp, sort, file, and otherwise attend to office-related paperwork.

Variations

For Scribblers: Pretend it’s your pre-writer’s first day on the job. Give them a little orientation to the office, and let them observe you at work to get the idea.

For Spellers: Spellers are particularly fond of signing their names on any and all important documents and of turning index cards into personalized business cards.

For Storytellers: Storytellers are ready to learn about memos. Show them how to fill out the “To:” and “From:” and “Re:” (short for regarding) sections, and they can write important directives from the boss below that (see “Memo” in the templates section).

For Scholars: In addition to memos, scholarly CEOs can practice writing agendas, meeting minutes, annual reports (don’t forget the pie chart!), payroll, budgets, estimates, invoices, brochures, contracts, and pink slips.