Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Play Settings & Imagination Spaces
Simple Things Are Best Old Sheet Play Table Blanket Land Newspaper Play Space Streamer Zone Bag Block Building Room Weaving Obstacle Maze Footprints Everywhere!
Simple Things Are Best
Autumn Leaves
* Rake leaves into pathways and trails, creating rooms and hallways for play.
Blankets, Sheets, and Towels
* Blankets, sheets, and towels are wonderful materials to inspire imaginative and creative play. They can be anything: a superhero's cape, the sails for a ship, a cozy cover for a doll in the hospital, the walls of a magical castle, the throne of a queen.
Blocks
* Wooden blocks or plastic blocks; homemade blocks or store bought blocks; big blocks or little blocks. Blocks to build with, sit on, drive, or fly. Blocks for doll furniture, or homes for gerbils. Blocks, blocks, blocks are perfect for motivating creative thinking and play. You can never have enough blocks!
Boxes
* Cardboard boxes of all shapes and sizes — large and small, wide and narrow, tall and short — can become forts, treasure boxes, cradles, cars, a scientific laboratory, or a tidy school room. Collect and save them for play, and when done, recycle them!
Cardboard
* Cardboard cut into a frame that fits the face of a child can become a television screen, framed artwork, window, or computer monitor.
Furniture
* Use cushions or pillows to make a pirate ship. Have a tea party in a fairy glen under a table. Build a bridge with a wooden chair for the Billy Goats Gruff.
Indoors or Out
* Move typical indoor activities outside and traditional outdoor activities inside for an all new imaginative kick-start!
Pebbles, Pine Cones, and Acorns
* Add a few pebbles to the sand pile, use pine cones to make a house where acorn-people live. Pebbles, rocks, pine cones, acorns, weeds, leaves, bark, dirt, mud, sand, and grasses are just of few of the things children can play with indoors or out.
Sand Box
* Add containers, tools, dishes, plastic pipes, a hose and water, toys, or bare feet and bathing suits. Each addition becomes a new ingredient to stimulate creative play in imaginative new ways.
Water
* Water in the sink, in the grass, in the sand box, in a puddle, in the tub, in a bucket — wherever you have water, you have imaginative play.
Old Sheet Play Table
Materials
old sheet card table, or any sturdy table crayons or markers scissors clothespins or books, optional large safety pins, diaper pins, or clothespins
Steps
* Begin by draping an old sheet over a card table. Position the sheet evenly over the table. Trim the excess while the sheet is hanging. If necessary, hold the sheet in place with clothespins or books placed on top.
* Fold the extra sheet material at each corner. Use large safety pins to hold. The extra sheet can also be trimmed.
* To make windows, draw an H on one of the walls. Cut along the lines of the H. Use safety pins to hold the window open. Make windows on three sides, but leave room for a door on one side.
* To make a door, draw an upside down L with the straight leg of the L touching the floor. Cut along the lines of the L for a door that will open. Again, use safety pins to hold the door opened or closed.
* Climb inside the play zone and imagine it is a cabin, cottage, playhouse, cave, fort, or other imaginative play area.
More Ideas
After the sheet is cut to fit, remove it from the card table and spread it on the floor. Use fabric paint, fabric crayons, or regular crayons to decorate the play zone. Glue on fabric, felt, and sewing trim to add features like a doorknob, flowers, shutters, faucet, mailbox, or other exterior house ideas. Then put the sheet back on the table.
An old tablecloth, thin bedspread, or blanket will work instead of a sheet.
Blanket Land
Materials
blankets, sheets, or other large lightweight fabrics, such as beach towel • large piece of fabric • old drapes or curtains • old sheet •
Steps
* Assemble the blankets or other fabrics. Choose an area with sturdy furniture to incorporate in the building and play.
* Spread a blanket out over some chairs. Look inside and see what you think about the space.
* Join more chairs and maybe a table to support more blankets for a larger "land." Build Blanket Land as big or small as you wish. Use clothespins, tape, or string to make Blanket Land secure and sturdy.
* Choose books, toys, pets, snacks, pillows, and other items to enjoy inside the structure. A flashlight can add extra fun.
More Ideas
Take sheets and blankets outside with a basket of clothespins for children to create their own structures and "lands."
Think about spending the night or taking a nap in Blanket Land!
Newspaper Play Space
Materials
old newspapers masking tape stick or dowel yarn, paper scraps, stickers, optional
Steps
* Roll newspaper around a stick or dowel to form a tube. Start by placing the stick diagonally across the corner of the newspaper as shown in the illustration. Roll up. Tape the loose end in the center. Then slide the stick out.
* Make many many tubes. Several hundred would create an amazing space!
* Tape the tubes together and build a play space. Use masking tape freely to make the building strong. Experiment making a:
cabin car hide-out jail train cage cave horse rocket truck
Enjoy this imaginary place space.
Streamer Zone
Materials
rolls of crepe paper in any colors lots of tape, a stapler, or pushpins hula hoop scissors fan, optional
Steps
* Tape one end of a roll of crepe paper to a hula hoop. Cut the crepe paper at a desired length, perhaps 10' (4 m) or more. Snip with scissors.
* Attach additional long strips of crepe paper, until the hoop is filled with strips of crepe paper.
* Place the hula hoop in the middle of the room on the floor. Pull one streamer out from the hoop and tape the end to the ceiling, a wall, or a piece of furniture. Do this with each streamer from the hoop. The streamers will drape all over the room, like a sunburst from the hoop in the center.
* Or, turn on a fan and blow the streamers gently with moving air.
NOTE: ADULT SUPERVISION NEEDED FOR THIS STEP.
* Play and pretend in this imaginative and colorful streamer space.
More Ideas
Suspend the hula hoop from the ceiling so that it hangs horizontally and the streamers make a canopy or umbrella of colors.
Hang streamers over windows or doorways.
Hang streamers straight down from the ceiling.
Bag Block Building
Materials
large paper grocery bags old newspapers or any old paper masking tape or packing tape
Steps
* Open a grocery bag. Stuff it with 10-12 double sheets of crumpled newspaper.
* Fold the bag opening over and tape the top closed. There is no need to decorate the bag unless you want to.
Make at least ten or more blocks. Having 50 or more makes this * activity most imaginative!
* Build a play space or other imaginary area.
* Blocks are soft and can be easily knocked down and built up again.
More Ideas
Supplement Bag Block Building with cardboard boxes, shoe boxes, or sheets of heavy paper for ramps, bridges, and roofs.
Make blocks from different-sized bags for smaller or larger blocks.
Room Weaving
Materials
string, yarn, ribbon, or twine scissors
Steps
* Tie any smaller pieces of string and yarn together to make one long strand. Roll into a ball.
* To begin the Room Weaving, tie one end of the string or yarn to a doorknob, closet rod, bedpost, or chair leg.
* Take the string from one object to another, tying or wrapping around furniture or objects to hold it in place. String can crisscross itself and go all around the room like a web.
* Now weave and tie strings in between the first strings. A plan is not necessary, just keep tying and weaving strings to strings.
* When the web is done, imagine and play in the Room Weaving.
More Ideas
Pretend the Room Weaving is
an imaginary world a spider web a thick jungle an underground cave
Add other materials, such as
blankets or sheets • paper cutouts • strips of fabric • strips of newspaper
Obstacle Maze
Materials
obstacle suggestions baskets • blankets • blocks cardboard boxes and cartons, all sizes chairs • cushions • other furniture pillows • tables • toys
Steps
* Set up obstacles and spaces for climbing, crawling, and hiding in a room or outdoor area. Begin with just a few obstacles.
* Suggestions:
drape blankets over chairs create paths with blocks or boxes stack pillows to roll over turn tables on their sides like walls pull couch cushions free to make a padded floor area or walls
* Play in the spaces.
* For an extra challenge, set up a specific obstacle course, such as
first, climb under table then, roll over three pillows then, jump over a line of blocks then, wiggle through a gauntlet of chairs finish with a jump into a pile of cushions
Footprints Everywhere!
Materials
pair of shoes marker scissors colored contact paper carpeted floor
Steps
* Trace a pair of shoes on colored contact paper. Make as many pairs as desired — the more the merrier.
NOTE: IF ONLY CLEAR CONTACT PAPER IS AVAILABLE, TRACE FOOTPRINTS ON COLORED PAPER, CUT THEM OUT, AND COVER WITH CLEAR CONTACT PAPER RECTANGLES THAT ARE LARGER THAN THE FOOTPRINTS.
* Cut out the footprint pairs.
* Stick the footprints in a trail across the carpet or anywhere to make a path to follow. Footprints can go up and down ramps, stairs, through climbing toys, on rubber tire swings, outdoors, and everywhere!
NOTE: BE CAUTIOUS WHEN SELECTING SURFACES THAT MAY BE DAMAGED IF THE FOOTPRINTS ARE LEFT FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.
More Ideas
Think of other kinds of prints to make, like handprints, paw prints, outer space appendage prints, or baby footprints.
Include alternatives to walking on the prints, like hopping on one foot or jumping on two feet.
Cardboard Carton Play
Materials
large cardboard box, such as from appliances or office furniture knife to cut cardboard (adult only)
Steps
* Work in an open, comfortable space inside or outside. Place the appliance box on the ground. Draw lines for windows, doors, chimney, or other features.
* Cut the cardboard with a sharp knife (adult only).
* Push the windows and doors so they will open and close easily. Use duct tape tabs for handles or openers on doors and windows.
* Add signs or additional features with the marker as needed.
* Other items and objects can be incorporated in the play, such as
books • flashlight • paper and crayons • pillows • sleeping bag • toys of all kinds
* Time to play and pretend!
More Ideas
Design settings for specialized play, such as
for a cave — set up a play campfire for an igloo — set up a play dog sled or ice fishing for a castle — set up a play bridge and moat at the entrance for a fort — set up a play horse corral for the "Three Little Pigs"— make three houses side by side for "Hansel and Gretel"— cover the house with candy designs for a store — stock the shelves with inventory of choice
My Own TV
Materials
appliance cardboard box, strong and large (big enough to crawl inside)
Steps
* Draw a TV screen on one side of the box. Draw it as large as possible.
* Draw additional TV parts such as knobs, buttons, speakers. Stickers or labels can also be used for this step.
* Cut out the hole for the screen with the knife (adult only).
* Fold the flaps out on bottom of the box. Tape the box flaps to the floor to help keep the box from wiggling and collapsing.
* Crawl into the box and pretend to be on television.
More Ideas
Make up a commercial. Hold an empty cereal box, toy, or other prop to sell.
Sing a song or act out a favorite book or story.
Ask a friend to change the "channel" for a new "program."
Use an old cabinet-style TV set with all the parts removed.
Art Gallery, Just for Me!
Materials
cardboard chalkboard drawing pad magnetic board marker board decorating and frame making supplies, such as crayons • fabrics • felt squares • glue • magnets • markers • paints and brushes pencils • picture hangers • scarves • stapler • tape children's artwork paper scraps, stick on labels, and pens for making labels and signs old picture frames shelf table top windowsill
Steps
* Set aside a wall for the gallery showing area. Include the tops of tables and shelves or a windowsill for display.
* Decorate old picture frames, cardboard, or other display items with paint, markers, or other materials.
* Next, hang the empty picture frames, chalkboard, cardboard, magnetic board, or other display items in the gallery area. The purpose is to have display areas that the artist can reach independently to show off artwork. For example:
slip a drawing behind an empty picture frame and attach with tape attach an artwork to a magnetic board with magnets display a sculpture on a felt square on the windowsill arrange artworks on a bookshelf draped with a scarf
NOTE: WITH BEGINNING ARTISTS, USE ONLY ONE TYPE OF DISPLAY. MORE EXPERIENCED ARTISTS WILL APPRECIATE MORE FRAMING CHOICES.
* Make signs and labels with paper scraps to name the artworks and list the artists' names.
* Invite friends and family to gallery showings.
Plastic Jug Structure
Materials
200 plastic gallon jugs, from water, juice, or milk (clean and dry)
Steps
* Place 20 jugs, bottoms facing out, in a circle on the floor.
* Remove four or five jugs in one spot to create a doorway.
* Connect the remaining jugs in the circle to each other with a hot-glue gun (adults only).
* Glue a row of jugs, moved slightly in toward the inside of the circle, on top of the first row. The number of jugs for each consecutive row will decrease from the original 20. This will begin the formation of the dome shape.
* Continue adding rows of jugs, moving them slightly in, until the structure is five rows high and the door is formed. A domed igloo-like shape should be forming.
* When gluing the sixth row of jugs, continue connecting jugs in a full complete circle. This will create a row of jugs over the door and begin the formation of the roof.
* Add rows of jugs until you have room at the top of the structure for only one last jug.
* Play and imagine inside the structure.
More Ideas
Use duct tape instead of a hot-glue gun.
Build a structure that is square or another shape.
Build a structure with shoeboxes or other boxes instead of jugs.
Build a structure with liter bottles or other plastic bottles instead of jugs.
Create an "Arctic World" with ice-fishing outside an igloo, toy polar bears and seals, a dog-sled, and other props.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Making Make-Believe"
by .
Copyright © 1999 MaryAnn F. Kohl.
Excerpted by permission of Chicago Review Press Incorporated.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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