Electronics can seem to take over
our children’s lives sometimes.
Even a baby can grasp some of the
basic controls of a smartphone and children as young as two are using
them to play games.
This
engagement with technology is not necessarily a bad thing, being able
to keep up to date with software will no doubt be important as they
grow and get jobs, but it should not take president over letting them
create with their hands or use their imagination with games.
Swedishchildren’s clothes retailer Polarn O. Pyret recently shared
some PDFs with simple, cost effective ways of encouraging this type
of imaginative and tactile play. Here’s one on building your own
stilts.
One great way is for them to make
their own fantasy
figures – instead of going to buy the latest toy! If your child
is a little older encourage them to draw their own character or
animal, then shop your house, garage or recycling bin for the
components.
If your child isn’t yet old enough
to do a drawing then provide a selection of materials and see what
you can make with them. Items such as fabric scraps, bottles and
lids, boxes, wood scraps and jar lids are perfect for this.
The best part of getting your
children to make their own characters is seeing their confidence and
imagination flourish. They are able to think logically how different
objects could interact, how they can adhere two items and of course
they can proudly display and talk about what they made when people
come to visit!
So not just a great way to encourage
creative play, but a perfect way to do some clearing out in your own
home! In fact, you could shop your left over bits and create a box
for them to make their own things over and over again; the more you
add to it, the more they can learn and create.
