Ask children if they would like to help plan a big surprise for someone today. Have them choose a person they would like to make a special fancy dinner for.
Sit down with the children and lead them in a brainstorm session on the things needed for this special dinner. Items may include:
Menu
Invitation
Fancy dishes
Decorations
Candles
and Music
Allow children to come up with the entire menu: Main course, Side dish, Drink and Dessert. After the meal has been planned, have them create a fancy looking menu listing each item they will be serving.
If the special guest is not someone living in your home, be sure to create a fancy invitation for them so they know the details of when and where to come and how to dress!
Allow children to play a large part in the meal preparation, and in setting the table. This is a good chance to teach them how to do a proper place setting.
Have children dress in fancy clothes and put on some soothing meal-time music.
When the guest arrives, allow children to be the ones to greet them and show them to their seat. Choose one of the children to be the waiter/waitress and be in charge of writing down orders and delivering the food. Other children may be in charge of entertainment.
While the guest is waiting to be served, fill a few glasses with water (at different levels), and have the children play a song.
Light a candle, turn out the lights and enjoy your meal.
(We did this once with Daddy and another time with a neighbor. The girls loved surprising our dinner guests, and you could tell they felt pretty professional taking orders and entertaining in their fancy outfits. It was a big hit.)
