Everybody’s a Critic

Things at the Star Diner are a little amiss. The waiter, Oliver, is busy wandering around the room with his half apron draped loosely around his neck, instead of around his waist. Nevertheless, his supervisor is quite pleased. “Oliver tied the apron himself,” she beams.

When a milkshake order is ready, Oliver exclaims that it’s “chocolate and strawberry” — but refuses to hand it over to a customer. When Oliver later decides to quit working and start strumming a guitar, all is forgiven. The 2-1/2-year-old Oliver is one of 14 toddlers trying out the Star Diner Restaurant playset — which includes a reusable menu, coffee pot, set of guest checks and fake waffles.

As a judge in the annual toy test at the Goddard School in Verona, Oliver will help rate Star Diner.

The Goddard School for early childhood development, known for its play-based curriculum, has 470 schools across the country. “Learning through play works because children are more likely to remember lessons if they enjoy them,” says Mawara Sohail, who owns the Verona school. “And they are more likely to show enthusiasm for learning if they have fun at school.”

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