Switch off the TV. Switch off the games console. Make time for creative play. Your children will surprise you with their imagination and their artistic ability – all you need to do is encourage them, and make opportunities for them to shine. Set aside time to be creative with them – it is a great way for you to get back in touch with your imagination too!
Here are some ideas...
Car games: encourage your children to turn off their handheld games and involve the whole family in a ‘one word story’. Think of a title for the story and then tell it, with each person offering one a word at a time. The challenge is to get the story to make sense – but there is fun in nonsense too! Of course, you don’t have to be in the car to play this game – but it is a great time to introduce creative games. If ‘one word story’ doesn’t appeal, then how about this? The ‘number plate’ game sees the family competing to make up the funniest imaginary organisation based on the letters of passing numberplates. So, if a number plate passes which include the letters ‘NPG’, you might decide this stands for ‘Naughty Penguin Group’ or ‘Nervous Purple Grannies’. There are lots of games like this: the best thing is to make up your own!
Serious painting: if you have a large supermarket, a Pound Shop or discount stationers nearby, you will most likely be able to pick up some artist’s canvasses and acrylic paint very cheaply. Get a canvas for you and each of your children and set aside an afternoon for painting. The children will love the fact that they are using ‘real’ artist’s materials – and will be encouraged to spend time painting something to hang on the wall. If painting doesn’t appeal, you can gain the same bonding experience through serious modelling clay, serious drawing – even serious Lego. The most important thing is that you show commitment to the art or craft yourself and encourage your children with praise for whatever they produce.
