Curious Mind’s - Self Initiated Creative Play
(Photo’s from the childsmind Instagram feed)
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays.
Latest photo’s from the childsmind Instagram feed.
Empathy
After watching the news last week, Mr Six decided to throw his toy guns in the trash. After successfully convincing his younger brother, he wants to ask his friends to do the same. He put himself in the shoes of those innocent six year olds who lost their lives in Connecticut and is motivated to make change happen, based on his understanding. Empathy is necessary for caring behaviour.
”When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world.”
~Mister Rogers
Rethinking The Book, The Story, Information And Storytelling.
We drool over and treasure beautifully illustrated children’s books, but are we showing more interest in those books than our children? The most captivating books for young children are not always what we expect. Why do we make a bee-line for the children’s section at the library or select for them only age appropriate children’s books?
The Quest For A Better Bubble
When a flimsy useless bubble-wand actually inspires a bit of problem solving and prototyping to create a new improved design solution.
If you don’t like it, then make a better one.
Rather than giving up on a cheap toy, Mr Six went in search of a better idea and we couldn’t help but notice the result from the shouts of excitement.
Now everyone want’s the better one, so Mr Four makes one too.
There will always be an even better bubble. It’s just a matter of who takes the opportunity to discover it.
Nurturing Opportunities For Curious Minds
Today’s Solar Eclipse, the moon passing between the sun and the earth, was an opportunity for children to discover something rare by experience. I hardly gave it thought until our spontaneous morning turned science on us, leading to many curious questions from Mr Four along with some random experiments.
Grabbing my camera I attempted a few quick photos without any prior planning, preparation or knowledge of how to do it. Meanwhile Mr Four excitedly picked up two balls he found outside trying to work out what was happening from the little I had explained to him on the go.
Unfortunately without viewing glasses we just observed the photos straight on the camera itself. I explained it’s hard to capture because we don’t have a special filter to view safely through. Inspired, we scrambled around finding many materials like coloured cellophane, foil and paper to use as experimental lens filters. In the limited time we had, Mr Four enjoyed finding the materials to try out and creating various effects, before it was all over.
Sometimes lack of knowledge or preparation can make for more creative explorations because we were testing and working it out together. We discovered the thick clouds formed our best filter to see the eclipse clearly.
Following some endless questions - “Is the sun bigger than the moon”? “How fast does it go”? “Why does everything look funny outside”? “Is it dangerous”? “Where does the moon go”?…. We took the opportunity to do some research online together to find some fun answers that I could benefit from too.
These, in hindsight are often the most exciting opportunities to feed kids curiousity. Sharing the discovery together, not having all the answers and creatively experimenting on the go. It’s always the hands-on real-time experiences that get the imagination and questions flowing while building strong memories with little effort.
The Colour Of Childhood
Why Are Children Drawn To Bright Colour?
Colour provides a bright side to childhood and it’s fascinating to understand why they are so enamored with it. Colour is a big part of their world. The playful, visually stimulating variations of ‘reflected light’ that we see as ‘colour’ provides a dose of happy energy like that of a child. Bright colour aligns with their energy - young kids are drawn to it and desire playful interaction with it. They play with colour like playing with toys. Like the joy of a kaleidoscope they are exploring with an experimental curiosity about what colour means to them.
I Dare You. Confidence, Creativity And Risk Taking
Beyond The Comfort Zone
Risk taking is an essential but hard-to-watch part of childhood. It’s a typical child thing to explore the world around them, but some kids seem more inclined on pushing the limits than others. How does this confidence link to creativity?
Solving The World’s Problems
How are children exposed to the problems in our world? This example- a painting on a drain at our local primary school, simplifies the issues by connecting the cause and effect for children to understand the link, reinforcing the message.
If they are introduced to these global problems at a young age, are they more likely to go on to pursue interests that benefit our world?
Educator John Hunter introduces awareness and problem solving skills to students with his ‘World Peace Game’. This interactive experience “triggers a transformation of the students from children of a neighborhood school to citizens of the world. The World Peace Game exposes children to the complex issues of the greater geo-political world that they will one day encounter. Hunter’s innovative exercise lays the groundwork for students to become civically engaged individuals”.
The Balloon And The Vacuum
While vacuuming Mr-Four was playing with his balloon. What was a simple morning switched into excitement of discovery… I turned around to find him wide eyed looking up at his balloon which wasn’t coming back down. It had been caught in the updraft of the vertical vacuum exhaust and continued to dance around up in air. What followed was just a few mintutes of disbelief and giggles watching as the balloon stayed afloat until Miss-One came along and put her head over the nice warm air which caused the balloon to drop down, overheat and pop!
A random, spontaneous and enjoyable science encounter during play - a fun experience that is always followed by many curious questions. Moments like these always appear when we least expect them.
At least we’ve both just discovered something to make vacuuming more fun.
1 Of The 100 Curious Knowledge-Gathering Question's Of The Day:
- Mr Four: "Why is water so fast"?
How To Move An Elephant
A Problem To Solve
Earlier today, Mr Six was outside riding his bike around our street. Two unfamiliar older boys of about 10 years entered the scene carrying a mattress with difficulty down the sidewalk. I glanced up from my work in the garden as Mr Six stopped his bike to openly observe the unexpected sight.
Collecting Memorable Play Experiences
Children play to learn but they are also playing for fun. How much of childhood play do we remember later in life and what type of play creates the best memories? How do these experiences contribute to who we become?
It’s not just about open-ended play opportunities to nurture creativity, but also about letting children hold onto their ‘favourites’ that allow play to evolve and grow with them. Maybe even sparking deeper creative connections later in life.
Playing With Music
Unexpected Discovery
It was a visit to the barber for two boys haircuts that resulted in a new found fascination in music instruments, a less than obvious connection which made it an experience to remember…
Mathematics That Makes You Sweat
“This is Math that makes me sweat!” exclaimed Mr Six tonight.
