Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Jobs I Might Do Dress Up Cards: Free Printable Card Set for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Jobs I Might Do Dress Up Cards is a free printable card set for Reception (ages 4 to 5). It has nine jobs, from firefighter to bus driver, and each card says what the person does. Children cut out the cards, pick one and act the job out, using a hat or coat if they like.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages. Page 1 is for the children. Keep page 2 for the grown-up, as it has notes, help, a stretch idea and answers. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
The sheet is a set of cards to cut out. Each card names a job and says in a few words what the person does. There are nine jobs, from firefighter to bus driver. Children listen to each card, say the job name, then act it out, perhaps wearing a hat or coat. The cards give children simple words to use when they talk about work, and pretend play helps those words stay in their minds.
- Firefighter: puts out fires
- Doctor: helps people feel better
- Teacher: helps us learn
- Vet: looks after animals
- Builder: builds houses
- Chef: cooks food
- Postie: delivers letters
- Farmer: grows food and looks after animals
- Bus driver: takes people on journeys
Dress up ideas from around the home
A hat or cap
One hat can become many jobs. Let your child decide which job it belongs to and explain why.
A coat or an old shirt
A coat or a large shirt is easy to put on. Ask your child which job might wear it and what they would do next.
An apron and a wooden spoon
Good for pretend cooking. Use only soft, safe props. Adults do any real cooking, and no real knives or hot items are needed.
A bag and some paper
A bag with folded paper pretend letters is a simple prop for a delivery game. Walk around the room and post them through a doorway.
Why talk about jobs in Reception?
Young children meet people doing jobs every day. They see a bus driver, a teacher, a doctor or a builder, but they may not have the words to talk about what each person does. Learning job names gives children a way to describe the world around them. It also helps them join in conversations at home and in class.
Pretend play is one of the main ways children learn in the Early Years Foundation Stage. When a child acts as a vet or a chef, they try out new words, take turns and share ideas. A card set like this gives play a starting point. It also gives grown-ups simple things to ask and say as the game goes on.
Skills and curriculum link
- Learning job names
- Talking and listening
- Pretend play
- Using new words
- Sharing ideas
Ideas for the grown-up
- Start with what they knowAsk which of the jobs your child has seen in real life. Begin with those, then move to the less familiar ones.
- Use the words on the cardSay the job name clearly, then repeat what the person does in the same simple words. Hearing it again helps it stick.
- Ask open questionsTry "What would you need to do this job?" or "Who might this person help?" There is no one right reply.
- Let the child lead the playOnce they know the cards, swap roles. Your child can be the one who gives the job and you can act it out.
Key words
- JobThe work a person does.
- UniformSpecial clothes that some people wear for their job.
- Act outShow something using actions, as if you were really doing it. You can use words too.
- PostieA friendly word for a person who delivers letters.
- GuessSay what you think the answer is when you are not sure.
- HelperA person who does something useful for other people.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself, as it has the notes and answers.
- Cut out the cards. Young children will need an adult to do the cutting.
- Read one card at a time. Say the job name and what the person does, then ask your child to say it back.
- Act out the job together. Use a hat, a coat or other dressing up clothes if you have them.
- Check the notes and answers on page 2. Come back to the cards another day, as repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read one card at a time and act it out together. Start with jobs your child already knows from home or the street. Say the job name, then say what the person does in a short sentence. Leave the harder cards for another day.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to say which job they would like to do and why. Then ask what that person might wear, who they would help, and what they would do first. Encourage full sentences, such as "I would like to be a vet because..."
Make it a game
Pick a card without showing it and act the job for a friend to guess. In this game only, the actor uses no words, just actions. Take turns. When the guess is right, say together what that person does.
Talk about it
- Which job on the cards would you most like to try? Why?
- Do you know someone who does one of these jobs?
- What do you think a person in this job wears?
- Who does this person help?
- Which job do you think is the busiest?
- What job would you add to the set?
Take it off the page
Dressing up box
Fill a box with hats, coats, bags and aprons. Let your child choose an item and say which job it could suit.
Job drawings
Draw a person doing a job. Ask your child to tell you about the picture while you write a short caption for them.
Walk and spot
On a walk or bus ride, look out for people doing jobs. Talk about what each person is doing and who they are helping.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Short bursts work best. Act out a few cards, then stop while they are still enjoying it. Praise effort and good ideas, not only right answers.
Teachers
Use the cards as a starter, a plenary, a table activity or a role play area prompt. They need no preparation beyond printing and cutting. Page 2 offers support and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
Home educators
Pair the cards with picture books about jobs, trips to the shops and everyday talk. Because the set is free to print, you can make another copy for brothers and sisters or use it again in a few weeks.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before this sheet, children build their talking by naming people they know, such as family, friends and helpers in their neighbourhood. Simple talk about what people do at home and in the street prepares them for naming jobs.
After this sheet, children can explore jobs in more depth. They can talk about what people need for their work, who they help and how jobs change the places where we live. Later on, they may link jobs to their own interests and ideas.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Jobs I Might Do Dress Up Cards for?
It is written for Reception, ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger children can join in with help, and older children can use the stretch idea to say more about each job.
- What will children practise?
Children learn the names of jobs and what people do in them. They practise talking, listening and pretend play. Acting out each job helps new words stay in their minds.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or another group of children.
- What if it feels too hard?
Read one card at a time and act it out together. Begin with the jobs your child already knows. Come back to the others another day, as repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper, scissors and, if you like, some dressing up clothes. It works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. An adult should help young children with the cutting.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, table activity or role play prompt. It needs no preparation beyond printing and cutting, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour themselves if they want to, or you can simply use the cards as they are.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.