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Just like rereading a favorite book, there are some magical experiences that kids love to recall in conversation (sometimes re-enacting them!) again and again. Wouldn’t it be great to engineer these magic moments for them? One tried-and-true approach: Offer kids a hook -- and the room to explore freely -- and then give them the chance to pretend. A literary character who nails this is Max of Where the Wild Things Are, which is why crowning kids “kings and queens of the wild things” is one of our favorite magic-making games.
First, read aloud Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are to whet kids’ imaginations. Then invite kids to create their own crowns using the natural treasures around them—a simple but developmentally powerful pastime. When the crowns are ready, kids can put on their own rumpus, just like Max. We love this activity at dusk, especially if we have a group of wild things on our hands. Allowing kids to scout independently while also creating together is a masterful combination. This, along with the make-believe joy of wearing a special crown and being a “wild thing,” results in fun, cognitive growth, and maybe even a little magic.
Nearly all kids enjoy dress-up at some point. A strong practice of pretend play helps develop imagination along with critical skills like communication, executive function skills, and creativity. This activity provides the context of a story and self-designed nature crowns, which helps kids take on new identities with greater ease. The crown-making project is also a great way to develop fine motor skills, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Several behavioral schema -- a set of repetitive developmental behaviors that all children ages 18 months to five or six exhibit -- kick in as kids undertake this project. You'll recognize many: gathering ingredients and carting them around supports the transporting schema; placing objects in a particular order on the crown is great practice with the positioning schema; the very act of sticking objects onto the paper crown activates the connecting schema. What matters most to your kids, though, is the independence and pride they take in their final product -- even if it’s less than perfect-looking. Show fascination as your kids tell you all about their finished crowns -- it will boost their self esteem even further. Then let the wild rumpus begin!
Great deals on DIY kits designed for learning through play. Check out the Circle Time Essentials Kit to make the most of this season!