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The Benefits of Kids Using Their Own Creative Imagination: Making Something Out Of Anything

March 8, 2010 By Laura 9 Comments

Sometimes, I like to plan my kids crafts and art. But whether I plan arts and crafts or not, it still happens in this house, and all over this house, every day! The kids sure don’t need me, to come up with creative ideas. The kids use their own imagination, and it’s awesome! In fact, I’d go so far as to say, that their wild imagination tends to venture further than mine does. And frankly, their are great benefits of kids using their own creative imagination.

While a child following directions (such as to make someone else’s craft idea) is crucial skill to their development, the benefits of a child completely using their very own imagination, far outweighs it. In thinking of and creating their own ideas/crafts/creations, they are:
– developing brainstorming skills
– learning how to think outside of the box
– developing planning skills
– learning how to problem-solve
– developing the abilities of an inventor!
– developing great personal character
– increasing their own self-confidence
– . . . . and so-much-more.

So, I try to keep the school room stocked with art supplies at all times, so that the kids can get creating any time it strikes their fancy to. But to tell you the truth, they often end up using lots of materials I didn’t supply, or would have never even thought of! Every time I turn around in this house, there is some new creation sitting there, or they are playing with one, or someone is suddenly at my side saying, “Mama, look what I made!“. I’m always surprised, over and over, by their creativity. But really, I shouldn’t be anymore.

Here are just a very few things our young triplets have made lately, that I have found around the house, and happened to get photographed.

A robot, made by {JM}. Materials used: a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cup, paint, marker, and a toy car. You should see it travel across the floor.

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Pistachio Shell Art, made by {A}.
Materials used: Pistachio shells, and markers.
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A Tissue Paper Doll, made by {O}.
Materials used: Tissue paper, glue, wooden screw cover buttons, and pencil.

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A Pop-Up Card made by {JM}.
Materials used: Paper, marker, black pen, scissors, and glue.

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A Deck Hang-Out 2-Dimensional Art Piece, made by {JM}. Materials used: Rubber material (the scraps from a kit), ribbon, tape, glue, a pencil, a cupcake tin, and firewood.

*Note: {JM} made this creation for someone we really care about, who suffers from frequent migraines.

The hammock, which is my favorite part, is so she can lie there and relax until she feels better. Since the project is so big and heavy, we decided to just send her photos, which she really appreciated. She used one of the photos, in a blog post of her own, about migraines.
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A Watercolor Painting, made by {S}. Materials used: Paper, Crayola watercolors, pencil, brush and water.

I think I can let go of the guilt I feel sometimes, when I haven’t planned a craft project in awhile. I don’t think they even need me.
And leaving the kids to figure out all of their own creative activities, is a gift of some time to us parents! More time to do what we need or want to do, while they are busy making awesome things!

I encourage you, to encourage your children’s very own imagination! On the next rainy day, or a day they say they are ‘bored’, challenge them to find different kind of materials around the house, or even from outdoors, and make something creative and really unique! And when they do, and show you, make them feel really good about what they created! Because it is their very own imagination and efforts on display, and it has grown them in more positive ways than can meet the eye. And that is something to celebrate!
They may just inspire you too, as my own kids creations inspire me.
Please consider sharing, and spreading the creative inspiration.

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Weeds for ME?

September 30, 2009 By Laura 4 Comments

Whenever the kids have been playing outdoors while I work, I am always eventually bound to hear this:
<door open>,<door slam>, <little footsteps> and “Ma-maaaaa, I have something for youuuuuu.” And into my work cubby pops a fistful of….weeds. “I picked these flowers for you, ” they say.

And I always say:

“Awwwww! For MEEEE? How sweet! Thank you so much! <kiss, kiss, kiss>. “Can you do me a favor, Honey, and put them on the deck for me?”. And they say, “Sure!“. And they run off to do it.

(And then I say, “Don’t run in the house please!“)

Because the truth is, if I just took them, I would have vases of weeds all over my house. And secretly, I’m a little concerned there are bug eggs on them, that will hatch a mother-load of insects into my house. Still, they mean a lot to me, because of the place/little person they came from, and the sentiment they came with. So I when I go outside and find them on the deck, I do look at them and hold them again. And which ever little ‘giver of the weeds’ will say, “Mama, remember I gave those to you the other day?” And I’ll tell them I remember, and they’ll smile.

But yesterday, I wanted to do more with them. And I felt the need to get away from the overwhelming load of work at my computer, anyway. So I went searching for a big jug or suitable container to put my ‘flowers in’. I filled it with water, arranged my beloved weeds just so, and placed the whole thing on my deck by my front door.

I once had an art teacher who always gave the advice of, or commented on a design, by saying, “Simple…yet effective!“

That phrase has really stuck with me. There are so many little touches we can add to our homes, that cost nothing, but work. Or at least work for US.

So yes….someone MAY come up to our door, and think, “Why in the world is this vase of weeds by the door like this?”

But that’s not what I see.

I see LOVE.

Simple Love.

And it Effects me.

My kids tell me they love me every day, and they show me in many ways, too.

But it’s the little signs of love from the kids, that I find here and there about the house, but wasn’t expecting, that put the warmth in our home, our family, and my heart, that I love the most.

Simple…..yet effective.

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A 6 Star Date – A Discipline System -Parenting

June 29, 2009 By Laura 7 Comments

In parenting, we’re always looking for new ideas to keep encouraging good character trait development in our children. Quite a few weeks ago, I came up with this star discipline system, and so far, it has been going quite well for our children. (Ages triplets 6, 6, 6 and old child 11.) We thought we’d share the concept of our idea with all of you other parents out there, today. And then give you a peak into some of the most special moments, that came from the success of this system.

I put all of the kids names on this chalk board, giving them each a few sections in vertical columns. When any one or more of the kids has an exceptional day, we give them a star on the chalkboard under their name, after they’ve gone to bed. Now, an exceptional day equates a day full of good and wise behavioral choices, exercising compassion and/or sacrifice for others, and overall behavior that exemplifies that which we expect of our children.

It really has to be a great day for them, to get a star. If they have an ok day, but not really STAR behavior, naturally we discuss with them what better choices they should have made in the moment, but nothing happens on the board. But if they make a big, bad choice…..one that they well KNOW is unacceptable, they get an immediate X on the board in that big middle section. X’s mean a consequence for their poor choice. Trust me when I say, no one likes getting an X around here. But they sure love striving for a star.

Let me tell you why I think this has been effective exercise for ALL of us….so far. : ) It saves us a whole lot of talking, to start. If they make a horrible choice, we put an X on the board right there and then. They KNOW what they did was a poor choice, and I tend to talk their ear off in the heat of the moment, personally. So really….the X says it all, and they know what it means. We may talk it over later when they apologize, just to solidify why we agree there were better choices to be made . Thankfully we haven’t had too many of those X’s. We don’t like giving them, and they surely don’t like getting them.

The great thing, is that they are really inspired by their stars. The very first thing they do in the morning is check if they got a star for the day before. We’ve even heard some of them get up very early to use the bathroom, but sneak in the kitchen first to take a peek. It’s just so cute. And it’s great to see that it matters to them! If they see any, it really starts their day off with encouragement. And that can only be a good thing. This discipline system is a constant visual reminder, right there in the kitchen all of the time, that speaks volumes about how they are doing.

The big goal for each of them is 6 stars. 6 is the magic number in our family, because of course, there are 6 of us in our family. It’s a sentimental number I guess. lol. So when they reach 6, they have earned something special. We have never been big into rewarding the kids for every little thing, because there is just a level of expectation in terms of behavior from them, anyway. The reward is often no consequence! lol. But this sort of reflects more what happens in life: working hard and making good choices in the long run, will pay off. On the flip side: Making poor choices only bring unpleasant natural consequences to oneself, whether immediately or eventually.

Well, {S} was the first one to reach 6 stars. I decided to surprise him by taking him out, all by himself with me, for ice cream at Holy Cowz! It was a date for just the two of us. But we thought we’d let you just peek in, anyway.

Holy Cowz is a great little fun walk-in place to get ice cream cones or sundaes. It has a small counter area, with a black and white checkered tile floor, and colors everywhere.

{S} got a chocolate and vanilla swirl soft-serve cone. We decided to head upstairs and sit while he had it, since outside was not a real warm and nice day.

He looked so excited with that cone in his hand, and just be on ‘a date’ with Mama.

I told him he better get licking!!

I decided I really didn’t need an ice cream cone myself. So I settled for a bag of BBQ chips.

Somehow, it seemed like a better choice at the time. Maybe because, <clearing throat>, I had 4 cookies before I left the house. Not that chips is a healthy choice. But it’s not so much of more sugar.

As I was sitting there, fiddling with my camera, the shutter went off accidentally……and I got this shot!…..

I had to keep it because I was rather impressed at how well (and artsy!) this accidental shot came out!
At the same time, it made me question all of my supposed photography skills. lol

{S} was just so cute sitting across from me, smiling and so content with his cone. He wanted the window seat so he could watch the cars and trucks go by out on the street. But eventually, he invited me over to sit right beside him. After all, we were on a date. <melt>

So I slid in beside him, with my heart all a-flutter, and we giggled. Then we decided it would be fun to try and get a shot of us together, via the automatic timer……

After a few tries to get IN the shot, we managed. Once again, I was rather impressed, and wondered if my camera ever needed me behind it at all.

Once we were done with our treats, we went up the street to browse an antique store that we both love looking around in. I contemplated taking my camera in just to take some fun shots, but all I did was take this one….

…and no sooner did I take it, did the owner come out and asked me if I just took a picture of her place. Oh brother. I decided she was going to be a funny one I didn’t want to deal with so….I left the camera in the van. Saw a ton of stuff in there I wanted to buy though!! But I didn’t because it was a poor choice that day to spend money, and poor choices have natural consequences. Right, Kids?!

So this was all weeks ago, and the chart system still seems to be going quite well. Getting stars is still just as exciting, and getting an X is still just as upsetting.
That’s the goal!

Since {S}’s special date, all of the kids have had 6 star dates, a couple of times. What they get always varies…..it depends on the kid. Sometimes we let them choose something reasonable, sometimes we surprise them. But it is usually involves doing something fun, with one of us parents. They love the one-on-one time with Mama or Daddy anyway, and we feel it’s important to have with them as well. One has gone fishing, another has gone bike riding, one even asked for a bath. Yes, getting a bath is special around here. We just can’t fill the tub over and over with clean hot water for each kid….and I don’t like the alternative either. So….showers it is. Which they also love. But you can really PLAY in a bath.

Oh….and for every 6 stars each of them has gotten, they’ve gotten a tally in the upper section. Those don’t add up to any special number where they get anything special. They feel good just to see them up there. And So. Do. We!

We hope you enjoyed this post, and perhaps gathered some inspiration, to either try this specific discipline system in your family, if your kids are about the right ages, or come up with your own creative system of positive parenting, that works for you.
Take care, and see you gain here soon.

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Expending the Kids’ Winter Energy: tumble, dribble, roll, pass, jump, shoot, balance, block, ….

January 11, 2009 By Laura Leave a Comment

In warmer seasons, we have more options to be active around where we live, than we can count. We reside right at the seaside, for one thing. Talk about a world all it’s own to explore, discover, create, learn, and deplete your energy. We spend a lot of the time at the shore, where we have deeded private beach rights. Aside from there, there’s plenty of places to go and things to do all over town. Beautiful, scenic places to hike, historical sites and experiences by the handfuls, multiple playgrounds, field trips, endless activities; exploring, experiencing, and learning everywhere, right at our fingertips. Most of which is outdoors, where kids can get out all of the energy they have.

Winter is another story!

While playing outdoors can be a blast now and then in the winter, weather has to be just right. And it doesn’t happen often. Temperatures are most times downright bitter. And the wind chill factor is worse, if not dangerous. So we consider other options, and have discussions with the kids about what they’d like to do.

{A} is not a concern. She has is older and has several outlets, being quite involved in multiple activities and services. All of which she is very serious and committed about.

Where organized programs go, we want the kids to be very interested in the activity, if we’re going to pay for it. Wasting money just to keep them busy doesn’t happen with us. They are quite good at keeping busy all their own. They have great imaginations that can keep them going all day. But getting out the energy that stores up in the winter, with limited outdoor time to really run, jump and use some muscle, is very limited.

For the first time, our triplets split up in their choices of activities, which has been one of our solutions to the winter energy that needs to get out. {O} has wanted to try gymnastics for awhile. What’s more, I have been eager to see how she does in that sport as well, because we have always noticed she is unbelievably flexible. {A} tried gymnastics a couple of times when she was little. But she was about as flexible as….say, plywood. {O} is like Gumby. What she needs though is technical training, to put that flexibility to use, and execute the elements properly. At this point, she knows how to do the splits and summer-saults on her own. So I think she’ll be learning quite a bit, if she applies herself. So we’ll see how it goes. She’s really loving it so far. One thing I’m NOT loving; I have to take photos through the glass window! Not sure how long I’ll last before I start getting pushy and trying to get away with what I can.

The cartwheel is going to take some work. ; )

I sign (language) at my kids a lot, when need be. It works for us across a room, or when quiet is necessary, or…when they are on the other side of a window. But I couldn’t think fast enough how to tell her “PLEASE put the tongue away, before you drop to the mat, and bite it off.” Trust me – she’d be at a loss if she couldn’t talk. She is very articulate and expressive. ; )

The boys, on the other hand, are into basketball. And after watching their older sister’s last adrenaline-pumping neck-and-neck game on the big court, they were ready to go play themselves. I’m really impressed with this program. Very organized and progressive, really teaching critical technical skills to playing well, as well as rules, and building their overall knowledge of the game, with no wasting time. (Time is money….and in this case….ours! lol) They’ve been in Hoop-Heaven. It’s obvious they’ve learned a lot watching real games, and playing hoops in their own yard. Someone at this clinic asked me if my boys ever stop smiling. I told them “Certainly not when there’s a basketball in their hands!” I was all over the place with my camera, just taking Mama photos.

Another tongue-shot-but this one more exciting than scary. When I saw {S} do this with his tongue, I knew he probably ‘had it’. My little tongue-trick-talent: I can completely flip my tongue over upside down, and I could see in this shot, that that baby was at least half way there-without even thinking about it. So I called that boy over to me when we got home. I said “Can you do this?” And I showed him my tongue flip. Once he got done laughing, he gave it whirl. And by golly….there it was. An upside down tongue in his mouth. : ) Haven’t found a great purpose for it yet, besides occasional entertainment. But who knows what might come along the road of life.

They even play 1-on-1 already! So cute, at this age. {S}’s challenge is to stop laughing enough to get the job done. I feel really bad that I missed all of the shots of {J}’s 1-on1 play. It’s my husband’s fault really. Before I left, he reminded me (as he often does) “Don’t forget to talk to the other parents.” Sad to say, I need to be reminded to make a conscious social effort sometimes. Especially when I am watching my kids, and/or have a camera in my hand. So……I was talking to another parent (actually talked to a few over the hour), and missed {J}’s 1-on-1. But I’ll get it next time, if their Daddy doesn’t beg to go instead.

A couple of happy dribblin’ shooters, who have a little less energy on this day. Mission accomplished.

As I type, another winter snowfall has begin to gently cover the ground, and it’ll be snowing all night and possibly well into tomorrow. If it doesn’t turn to a wintry mix early in the day. Which could get messy. whether wet or frozen > not great to play in. So we’ll see. I may get out there and take some winter photos, just for fun.

I have a few plans for new posts coming up soon. I have NOT forgotten about revealing our Christmas Craft Gifts. It’s just that we have one more Christmas celebration coming up after all, here at our home, next weekend. (Our Christmas tree is even still up!). So once we get past that, I’ll be posting all about what we really made. I think you’ll love it! If you and your kids are crafty-inclined, you can put them on your idea list for next year to consider. How would that be for being ahead of the game? I’ll also be posting about some of our favorite recipes/snacks. Including photos and recipes/directions, in case you’d like to try them yourselves.

Meanwhile…..thanks for stopping by once again! Hope you’re finding plenty of winter-fun yourselves, if you live in real winter/cold elements, as we do this time of year. If so, feel free to share how you get through the winter, with either indoor or outdoor activities with your own kids. The more ideas, the better, as this can be one-long-winter. We love the storms and snow-fun – but by April, the cold can get a little tiresome. But so far, we’re enjoying the season!

How about you?

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Simple…..yet effective.

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