Play Activities

Play Activities

Kids Bored? Einstein, Boredom, Creativity & Kids

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Kids bored? According to 2 articles and a Google Doodle that could be a good thing. The 100th anniversary of Einstein’s theory of relativity is the doodle. The articles talk about kids and creativity.

Albert EinsteinThere is a myth about Einstein, that he failed at math. This is quite untrue. Einstein was exceptional in math. What he did do was take books home and work on his own. After leaving school, “Einstein’s day job was examining patents in Bern, Switzerland, which didn’t demand much mental capacity. It left him plenty of time to ponder the mysteries of the universe, which he did his best to solve on his own time.” (Did Einstein really fail at math? Laurie L. Dove)

For the not-demanding-much-mental-capacity job, we could use the word boring. And boring is the subject of the two articles about kids and creativity. According to expert Dr. Teresa Belton:

“When children have nothing to do now, they immediately switch on the TV, the computer, the phone or some kind of screen. The time they spend on these things has increased. But children need to have stand-and-stare time, time imagining and pursuing their own…experiences through play or just observing the world around them.”

(Children should be allowed to get bored, expert says. Hannah Richardson)

Letting young children get bored can be dangerous. That’s when they throw the toothbrushes into the toilet to see if they float or paint the dog with the deck paint. But they will do that anyway, if we turn our back, answer the phone, or just take a bathroom break.

Writer Adele Parks, recalls her Christmas holidays and “soul crushing bouts of boredom.” She doesn’t agree with the trend to “fill every waking moment with something improving.” Instead, she advises, “I believe in the merits of boredom. I think we need down-times so we can process and create.”  (Give kids the chance to be bored; it might just help their creativity. Adele Parks)

empty box creativityDuring the holiday season, adults will be busy and kids bored, “It’s so boring. I have nothing to do.” We can support their creativity with such items as:

  • an empty box,
  • a wrapping paper tube,
  • a blanket for making a fort,
  • paper and colors,
  • a few left-over bits of wood and some glue (check for slivers first).

While they may not come up with the theory of relativity, they will stretch their creativity and their brain power. Does your child have any time and space to be bored?

P.S. For a fun animated explanation about Einstein, check out this short video. It’s easy to understand, well relatively.
P.P.S. Kids bored? You can check the blog everyday for a play-of-the-day, not just during moments of boredom.

Play Activities

Dinosaurs and Play Dough Play-of-the-Day

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For a play activity that will never be extinct, mix of a batch of play dough. Inexpensive and appealing, combine dinosaurs and play dough for play time. This dino and dough post was so popular from last year, here it is again:

dinosaurs and playdoughFor an invitation to play, I simply put some playdough, small plastic dinosaurs and a few accessories, like small pieces of wood, a few rocks, some pale but clear bits of glass to be water, and a few small plastic eggs that open and close. Both Big Sister (6) and Little Sister (3) loved the dinosaurs. They played in different ways, Big Sister made stories and scenes, while Little Sister pushed the dinosaurs into the playdough in different positions. She especially liked standing them on their tails. But they each directed their own play and interacted part of the time. Later on, Big Sister made tracks with the dinosaurs and then matched them up with the corresponding feet.

dinosaurs and playdoughPlaydough is not just fun, it’s also great for learning. As kids play with playdough, they are also improving their fine motor dexterity. The small muscles in the hands, fingers, and wrists are still developing. The brain also gets lots of exercise for problem-solving and planning and other thinking skills. Since it’s so easy to work with, kids can create, smoosh it back together, and create some more. This also helps develop concentration and focusing skills and encourages stretching attention span too. As kids talk and explain, they are practicing ways of using language. Playdough is ideal for little hands and for sensory stimulation. Fingers love to feel how it squishes, rolls, stretches, and flattens. The different items of the dinosaurs, playdough, sticks, and glass bits gave the fingers more textures to explore.

Children of any age can play with play-dough, as long as they are beyond the “everything in the mouth” stage. Carpets and play dough are not a great combination so mats might be needed. Can you mix up a batch of dinosaurs, play dough, and kids?

Play Activities

Dinovember: Dinosaur Puzzles

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Puzzles are more than toys. They are a great opportunity for kids to develop critical thinking skills. Combine two kinds of fun with dinosaur puzzles.

dinosaur puzzleThere’s a tremendous range of dinosaur puzzles, from wooden or sponge ones with only a few big, chunky dinos that fit in precut spaces all the way to big floor puzzles with 100 or more pieces. Some dinosaur puzzles will have the alphabet or numbers printed on the pieces too.

dinosaur puzzle modelPractically any kind of dinosaur has a model of wooden bones to put together like a small version of real skeletons in museums. Few pieces or many, brightly colored or plain, 3-d or flat, there are dinosaur puzzles that will appeal to kids of various ages and stages.

Kids will play with puzzles in different ways and use different strategies to put them together. As they do, here are a few of the ways that puzzles build brain connections:

  • problem-solving: Figuring out what fits where is a problem to be solved. Kids will use different strategies to find these solutions.
  • noticing details: Puzzles have numerous details such as color and size, as well as different shapes. All of these give clues as to where pieces go.
  • spatial skills: Both brains and hands match the shape of a piece to the shape of empty spaces. Visualizing and being able to manipulate pieces mentally is a critical skill for later learning.
  • memory: Puzzles can be done over and over. Kids will stretch their memories as they remember where pieces go, what the puzzle looks like when it’s all done, and how they figured it out previously. They may remember asking for help and earlier answers.
  • muscle development. At this age, the small muscles in the hand, wrist, and arm, are still developing. Kids need many opportunities to build muscle strength.
  • hand-eye coordination: Perhaps a better term for this is hand-eye and brain coordination. Getting a piece to fit in a space requires they all work together.
  • attention, concentration, and persistence: Completing a puzzle can be done in small chunks of time or all at once. Kids can look around or even go off and do something else, but the only way to finish it, is to spend time and effort doing it.
  • creativity: There are a variety of ways to do puzzles. Even the ones with precut spaces can be done in various ways.
  • satisfaction, confidence, and achievement: Putting the last puzzle piece in is quite an achievement. No wonder it can feel so satisfying and boosts children’s confidence in their abilities.

dinosaur puzzlePuzzles can also enhance social and emotional skills. Sometimes kids will ask for help and sometimes they will be very independent. They will become frustrated and have to handle their emotions. Showing a puzzle that is all done and telling about it builds people connections. In a way, a puzzle is a metaphor for life. Aren’t we all putting the pieces together each day?

P.S. If play and early learning is a puzzle for you, visit often for a play-of-the-day post everyday.

Play Activities

Pretend Play with Dinosaurs: Both New and Old

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The authors of Dinovember have a new version of their book with more photos. Pretend play with dinosaurs can be constantly new and different, yet based on timeless play and prehistoric creatures. Dinosaurs may have lived more than 60-million years ago but to kids, they can be as new as today’s play. Although the dinosaurs all … Continue reading Pretend Play with Dinosaurs: Both New and Old →

Play Activities

Dinovember Patterns and Patterning Skills

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Today’s play-of-the-day is Dinovember patterns and patterning skills. These are great ways to have fun and develop some smart brain strategies. Are there some dinosaur toys at your house? As your child is playing with dinosaurs, you can play a little too. Show your child how you can make a pattern; for instance, purple dino/blue … Continue reading Dinovember Patterns and Patterning Skills →

Play Activities

Playing with Dinosaurs and Construction Toys

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Playing with dinosaurs and construction toys was a popular play-of-the-day during Dinovember last year. Here is the blog post to inspire more fun this year: Dinosaur Play and Construction Toys Because kids never see real live dinosaurs now, they are not limited in any way as to how they play with them. Dinosaurs are almost … Continue reading Playing with Dinosaurs and Construction Toys →

Play Activities

October Alphabet: C is for Children and Costumes

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One of the most exciting parts of Halloween is dressing up. Continuing with the next letter of the alphabet, C is for children and costumes. Did you see the video circulating recently on Facebook of a non-profit organization that makes costumes for kids in wheelchairs? When one of the children was asked about the best … Continue reading October Alphabet: C is for Children and Costumes →

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Alphabet Fun for Kids or A is for Autumn

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Although the date for autumn is in September, October feels like fall. Since autumn starts with A, today’s  play-of-the-day is some alphabet fun for kids. This book by Roger Will has both. While many parents think that kids have to know their alphabet before starting school, what kids can use is some basic familiarity with … Continue reading Alphabet Fun for Kids or A is for Autumn →