How To Sell Raisins To A Four-Year-Old
A Grapes to Raisin Story
The product? Raisins.
The eater/buyer? My four-year-old grandson Jonah.
Let me explain with a story.
Sunday morning Sammy and Jonah declined whole-wheat banana pancakes in favor of much simpler and healthier fare…..yogurt.
So, now that I wasn’t making a fuss over pancakes, I decided to make the experience more special than just putting a bowl full of yogurt in front of them. Instead, I created a ‘yogurt bar’ for breakfast. Next to each bowl of yogurt I gave them a decorated plate filled with a selection of toppings: walnuts, bananas, granola, kiwi and raisins.
Jonah, quickly said “I don’t want the raisins.”
I gently asked why, and he just shrugged his shoulder and shook his head.
I obligingly took them away.
Sammy, just shy of six, asked where raisins come from.
Well, all anyone has to do (even someone as young as Sammy) is ask for a story and I’m there.
I proceeded to explain how grapes grow, the different colors of grapes, and how they can be pressed into grape juice, fermented into wine or dried to turn into grapes.
I talked about the importance of sunshine (thanks Sun-Maid!), and that as the grapes dry into their wrinkly state, the natural sugar in them makes the fruit taste even sweeter.
I said that if they wanted to, they would be able to make raisins themselves*, just by taking a bunch of grapes and leaving it in a sunny place.
Who can resist the grapes to raisins story on this package?
It was a matter of seconds after I finished the raisin story that Jonah said: “I’ll have some raisins too.”
He quickly chewed them all, foregoing adding them into the bowl.
So, did my story sell Jonah on the idea of taking back his raisins and eating them with such delight?
I’m not sure, but it makes a memorable story.
(You can see how easy it is to dry grapes that turn into raisins here , let me know how they turn out!).
photo credit: by Veronique on http://www.wikimedia.com
Double Take 