Old-Fashioned Ways to Inspire Childrenby: Nicole Dean Most homes have a deficit of non-fiction books, so make sure your home is filled with Science, History and Art books. Children need to learn to read and appreciate non-fiction books in order to do well in research when they reach higher levels of study. Felt Boards Children love to tell stories with felt. You'll need a felt board to start. You can make your own board from a sheet of felt or purchase a board. Once you have the board, let the fun begin. StoryTeller, at www.felt4fun.com, has a great line of products -- felt sets, felt books, and so much more. The quality of their products is excellent. Visit their site to get a sample and feel the thick felt yourself. Be sure to check out the dolls with the felt clothing that sticks to them. My daughter loves these! Also, go to a craft or fabric store and buy sheets of felt in all colors. Then, cut out shapes in all colors and sizes. (You'll be amazed at how quickly a child will make an alien, ship, house, or person out of nothing but a few circles, rectangles, and triangles.) Blocks and Legos Children can play for hours building towers, bridges, cities, creatures, and more with these toys that inspire creativity, patience, and small-motor skills. When the masterpiece is finished, have your child pretend to be a giant and smash through the blocks! Art Supplies Give your child some crayons, scissors, junk mail, and glue. He or she will be entertained for hours if given encouragement. Please SUPERVISE closely if you don't want your child to have a self-induced bad haircut or attach the dog to her artwork! Puppets Make puppets out of socks, paper bags, felt, cloth, or popsicle sticks. Make a stage and tell stories. Get out the video camera and capture your child's brilliance! Musical Instruments Whether your musical instruments are home-made with a comb and wax paper or store bought, making music is a wonderful way to spend the day. Teach your child that music can be made from anything, from an old oatmeal container, to scratching two pieces of sandpaper together. Go on a walk and just listen to the sounds of the world -- music is everywhere in our lives. Dress-up Clothes Get out old prom dresses, big hats, shirts and ties, old Halloween costumes (or buy extra pieces after Halloween for year-round fun!). Bring out a box of costumes and watch the shows that your children put on for you. Keep a camera handy to capture the fun. Also, keep an eye on the pets. Cats don't always appreciate wearing a sombrero. Trust me, I have the scars to prove it! Doll-houses There is nothing more fun than watching your child make up stories as the family members move around in a doll house. Plus, if it is a wooden dollhouse, there is the added benefit of decorating it with some wallpaper scraps and carpet remnants! Your dollhouse could be a family heirloom if you put enough love into it. In the Kitchen Kids love to play Kitchen, when it is mixing air, or getting to play with food. Give your child a great time by giving them safe kitchen utensils to play with in the bathtub. Mixing, pouring, and scooping bubbles and water entertains my children long enough for them to look pruny. Or for a fun alternative, give them puffed rice cereal and some bowls and utensils on the kitchen floor. Just plan to vacuum afterwards as there'll be quite a wonderful mess! About The Author Nicole Dean is a mom whose life centers around exposing her children to all the wonders of the world. She is owner of www.ShowMomTheMoney.com -- a fun and exciting site to help Moms succeed in Business, Family and Life. Copyright 2004 by Nicole Dean All Rights Reserved Permission is granted for you to copy this article for distribution as long as the above copyright and contact information is included. Please include a link to www.ShowMomTheMoney.com. |
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