Hotel Reception

Why Hotel Reception works

Operate a hotel reception desk where guests check in, receive a room assignment and ask for one service. Welcome the guest and ask for their pretend name. Choose an available room number.

Set up — Welcome the guest and ask for their pretend name

Prepare household items before the child is asked to welcome the guest and ask for their pretend name. Use the result of having the child welcome the guest and ask for their pretend name as the setup for the move into choose an available room number. Keep props ordinary and safe, and do not copy real hazardous, medical, or emergency procedures while that starting condition is being established.

Step 2 — Choose an available room number

Ask the child to choose an available room number. Compare what happens with the earlier step to welcome the guest and ask for their pretend name, then continue by asking them to hand over the matching paper room card once the difference is clear.

Step 3 — Hand over the matching paper room card

Let the child hand over the matching paper room card and treat the result as information rather than simple repetition. If it is unclear, repeat that action before asking them to respond to one simple guest request such as extra towel or wake-up call.

Step 4 — Respond to one simple guest request such as extra towel or wake-up…

One careful attempt to respond to one simple guest request such as extra towel or wake-up call is enough at this stage. Before the child tries to check the guest out and return the room to available status, ask them to show or describe what differed from when they had to hand over the matching paper room card.

Step 5 — Check the guest out and return the room to available status

Use the result of asking the child to check the guest out and return the room to available status as a clue for the next decision. Do not move on to check the guest out and return the room to available status until this step has a clear purpose.

What to notice before Check the guest out and return the room…

Keep adult commentary light while the child works toward respond to one simple guest request such as extra towel or wake-up call. Their own response should show whether the next pretend action follows from what the characters just did before the activity finishes with the request to check the guest out and return the room to available status.

Make Hand over the matching paper room card easier or harder

For younger or less confident players, use one role, one place, and one short problem before the step to hand over the matching paper room card. If the child asks for more, add a second responsibility, clue, customer, or consequence that must be handled in order and then return to the final request to check the guest out and return the room to available status.

Finish after Check the guest out and return the room…

Check the guest out and return the room to available status. That is the natural place to end this version of Hotel Reception. Find the next activity in the activity search, or make a new one with the activity generator.