Creative play is essential in the development of a child. When kids are acting, playing dress up, dancing, or creating visual art, they are experimenting with decision making. At Figment, that is exactly what I like to promote. I had a large box left over from a package delivery. I showed my class the box and then we read Not A Box. It is an adorable book that shows the endless possibilities of a cardboard box and a child’s imagination.
I asked the girls what they thought we should do with the box. They threw around some ideas, but they weren’t set on one. I cut a window in the box, thinking it may spark some ideas… and BOOM! The box instantly became a puppet theater! The girls were super excited about their discovery and asked to make puppets. (Another thing I am super into is child led projects, because nothing holds a child’s interest as much as their own ideas.) So, I got out some kitchen spoons and other Horizon Group art supplies and let them get crafty. *This may be a good time to say that I am a blog partner with craftprojectideas.com -an awesome resource for craft supplies. They send me art supplies from time to time and we get to make amazing creative things with them. You can find many of their supplies at Walmart labeled Horizon Group, in the craft section. You can also see more craft ideas at http://craftprojectideas.com.
What we used:
- spoons
- google eyes
- Sharpie markers
- chenille stems (or as I like to call them, pipe cleaners)
- dual temp glue gun
- cardboard box
What we did:
- Had fun.
- Made puppets. We hot glued the “hair” on the puppet spoons and styled. Later adding fabric for clothes.
- Played
That’s right, we played, and played, and played. The girls acted out scenes and giggled and spoke in very high voices. There were some marriage proposals and fancy princesses. But over all, there were creative decisions being made and confidence being built.
