5 original exercises to stimulate the creativity of the little ones
Now that the prospect of a reopening of schools in September is becoming more and more certain, it is urgent to find playful and effective solutions to entertain our little ones without leaving the house. Accustomed to being at school, playing with their friends and playing sports and recreational activities outdoors, a situation of isolation like the current one could have a considerable impact on their psyche. to find original solutions with which to preserve their children from the damage that this historical moment could cause them and, above all, with which to distract them, stimulating their creativity.
1. Play with the senses
While the senses of sight and touch are the most trained, the other three, taste, smell and hearing, are in danger of being overshadowed. We take advantage of this free time at our disposal to stimulate its use in the little ones. It is important that they learn to explore new sensations, but above all to get to know them. Listen to unusual sounds together and train children to recognize them, for example by associating them with animals or certain environments. Experiment in the kitchen so that they can enjoy new flavors by distinguishing their aromas. If you have plants and flowers, in the garden or on the balconies, teach your little ones their names, in this way the species-smell association will be automatic. Finally, it is essential to ask for their opinion to make them feel involved, only in this way will they learn to get in touch with their own personality, distinguishing tastes and personal preferences.
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2. Write new bedtime stories
While the norm is for parents to tell their children bedtime stories to put them to sleep, why not try reversing the roles? Give them carte blanche and leave room for their inventiveness. Children love to travel with the imagination and invent stories inspired, perhaps, by their favorite cartoons. Show interest and, therefore, ask questions that prove all your curiosity. The clothes worn by the protagonists, their physical characteristics, the places where the story is set, but be careful not to overdo it, too many interruptions risk annoying them, demotivating them in a short time. Turn your children into little authors, they will feel responsible in a fun way and, in the end, exhausted by their creative act, they will fall asleep in the blink of an eye!
3. Paint the sounds
Music and drawing are two forms of art in which children love to do their utmost in their free time. Why not combine them within a highly creative activity? Press the play button on their favorite songs and invite them to transform the words heard into drawings. The illustration does not necessarily have to represent the text in a concrete way, on the contrary, it can give life to an abstract graphic composition of what sounds and words evoke in them, in which each color can be associated with an emotion experienced by the child. Once the work is complete, transform your home into a small museum, hanging the drawings in the various rooms. It will be good for the self-esteem of your children who will see their creations appreciated. Plus, a colorful house will certainly make quarantine more enjoyable!
4. Go wild by inventing choreographies
It is well known that children are an inexhaustible source of energy which, in the course of the day, needs to be released. Staying indoors all day, actually, is not the ideal condition to vent your hyperactivity, on the contrary, in the long run it can become extremely frustrating. The risk is that our little ones spend whole days lounging on the sofa hypnotized in front of tablets and TV. To counteract the danger of a sedentary lifestyle, once again resort to the aid of music, organizing fake dance competitions in which children are asked to invent choreographies. We adults, on the other hand, will have the role of judges, in this way, for them, the game will be even more stimulating. This can be an ideal solution to combine the need for physical activity with the even more urgent need to have fun.
5. Read to travel with the mind
Reading is a precious tool in our lives, regardless of age. Books allow us to travel, explore, learn, all without even having to leave the house. We use the stimulating power of a good text to entertain the little ones. Read for or with them stories of amazing adventures that tickle their minds, spurring them to wander with the imagination. Now that they cannot - momentarily - go back to school, it is up to us to keep them engaged in educational activities that prevent their intellect from becoming excessively lazy.
