Ah... St. Patrick's Day! What a festive day for not only adults but children as well. This day truly makes me miss the classroom. Some years we'd have the Naughty Leprechaun visit...he would leave his mark with sprinkles of green glitter and tossing papers to the floor, turning posters upside down, etc... the kids loved it. Every time we would come back into the classroom they would be eager to see what the Leprechaun did that time!
One of my favorite St. Patrick's Day activities was when we would write Leprechaun stories. What a chance to really use your imagination! We would take a couple weeks prior to St. Patrick's Day and work on our stories. When they were all finished, the children and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to each story. But those finished products were not easy. I was completely amazed at the lack of imagination the children had. And it wasn't just with one class...it was every class at many different schools. Is it me, or have children lost their creativity and imagination?
I remember as a child writing stories, drawing pictures, playing games all from our imagination. No TV, no video games, no toys that lit up and spoke...just pure raw childhood imagination. As I begin my adventure into motherhood, I can't help but wonder if my little girl will be in touch with her imagination. I will do my part to keep it going, I just hope she has friends that follow in it too!
Today I ask those readers to please comment and post games, projects, etc that your children do that exhibit their imagination! Maybe it will spark some ideas on how to promote more creativity at home or even in the classroom. If anything it will remind me that children still have their imagination and its out there!
I hope today brings celebrations and a bit 'O imagination to your day!
In Love, Laughter and Life~
2 comments:
I would post a game or project but I have zero kids and zero creativity :( Keep up the blogging though!!
My advice is to limit their time with tv/video games/technology gadgets - and to read to them every day/night starting from when they are babies. We live in the dark ages compared to most people. We don't have cable, the Wii or any game consoles, Blackberries, Ipods, Ipads, and whatnots. The result is our kids are creative and active. Anna went thorough a stage where she created all sorts of stuff from paper and scotch tape - including a "computer" where she could change out the screen. She has some electronic toys/games - but loves to spend time writing in her journals - creating stories -and drawing. There are lots of books with activity ideas to do with toddlers, preschoolers, kids - and Family Fun Magazine is a great resource too. I will admit I haven't utilize those ideas as much as I should -but I strongly believe that the key is giving kids the free time to explore their imagination. Too many kids today are over-scheduled and over-entertained - and no longer have the free time to come up with creative ideas/imaginations. So keep it simple - limit technology - give them free time - and read, read, read!
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