Why firefighters and police?
Ask a group of five-year-olds what they want to be, and firefighter and police officer often come high on the list. These are roles children know from the street, from books and from sirens going past. They have a clear task, a clear beginning and a clear end: there is a problem, someone turns out, and the problem gets solved.
That is exactly what makes them good for role play. The child does not have to invent the whole world from scratch. The frame is given, and the imagination can get going on the rest: Who is calling for help? Where is the fire? Who took the cake from the baker?
What happens when children play roles
In role play, children practise seeing the world from someone else's side. One is the firefighter, the other is the one who needs rescuing, and five minutes later they swap. They negotiate rules, come up with lines and agree on what should happen. Many parents find that this is where language and cooperation really come into play, even for children who otherwise prefer to play alone.
It does not take much. A station to drive out from, a couple of vehicles and an adult who gets the first story started is often enough.
The fire station and the police station in Crateit Town
Our two newest sets in Crateit Town are built for exactly this game. Fire Station comes with a fire engine, a helicopter and a motorbike. Police Station has police cars, a motorbike and 12 road pieces, and the station has both a jail and a lookout tower.
Both sets are assembled without glue, so the parts click precisely into place. The stations come uncoloured, and the children colour them themselves with markers. The first colour is not the final one: you can colour over it again and again, so the station can change its look when the game does.
- Recommended age: 5-9 years
- Can be used from 3 years, and is assembled with an adult up to 5 years
- Material: MDF, tested and certified to EN71
- Designed and produced in Denmark
Five ways to start the game
- The alarm goes off: The adult calls on a telephone made from a hand and reports a fire somewhere in the living room. The child turns out.
- The missing teddy: A teddy has gone missing. The police have to find clues, question witnesses and solve the case.
- Swap roles: The one who was the firefighter now becomes the one who needs rescuing. That brings new lines and a new understanding.
- Colour for the job: Should the fire station be red today? Or has it had a new roof after a storm? The colouring can be part of the story.
- Build out the town: Put the stations together with the roads, so the call-out has somewhere to drive to.
When the game grows
The nice thing about a town in wood is that it can grow. The stations fit together with the rest of Crateit Town, so the cars can drive on into town. City Gas Station gives them somewhere to fill up after the call-out, and Traffic & Road Signs Pack puts up signs along the road, so the traffic rules have to be followed, even in a hurry.
That way the game is not over after the first afternoon. It changes as the child grows older and the stories get longer.
The adult's role
Many adults are unsure how much to get involved. A good starting point is to help the game get going and then step back a little. Ask a question, set a task, and let the child find the answer. If the game stalls, a new event can often restart it: a cat stuck in a tree, a road that is blocked, or a car that has run out of petrol.
It is also perfectly fine to be the one who needs rescuing. Many children love being the one in charge who knows what should happen. Giving them that role is part of the game.
And remember that the game does not have to be finished. A fire station can stay out for several days, so the story can carry on where it left off.
Frequently asked questions
Which age are the fire station and the police station for?
The recommended age is 5-9 years. The sets can be used from 3 years, and they are assembled with an adult up to 5 years.
Do the stations need painting?
They come uncoloured, so the child can colour them in. Crateit markers are made for the wood and can be layered, so the colours can be changed later.
Can the sets be combined with other Crateit Town sets?
Yes. The stations fit into the rest of Crateit Town, so the town can grow one set at a time.
See all of Crateit Town, and find the two stations that start the next call-out.
