There has been talk lately about talking directly to your child about race instead of hoping that they get the message that “We are all the same”. Whatever your take or stance on whether that last message is the right one or not we live in a diverse society. It’s up to us to teach and lead our children.
Whether you mention race at home or live in a diverse neighbourhood. We live in a diverse world. Here are a few quick and easy ways to include diversity in play. There are many other ways and many other things to do but at the very least having some play items from around the world will start the discussion and maybe lead to a story.
Everyday objects will always hold a fascination to the little ones. We don’t have a huge separation of objects as toys but do have ones some that belong to them and belong to us. Largely because we need the object at the same time so it is just easier. But mostly we share.
Yesterday you saw the LO sorting.
He is loving this pouring, dumping and putting back stage. To help him I placed in his cupboard two empty icecube trays. After banging on these for a bit I brought him a small baggy of sticky letters and shapes . His brothers were crafting with them around the corner. He merrily sat there for quite a while filling each hole. Dumping them all and filling each hole again. I stayed and played with him for a minute naming colours as he dropped them in. Rearranging them into groups of colours. He dumped them when I did this so I got the message and stopped .
I do control the baggy after play otherwise that stuff would trail around the house.
………..Turning little moments into playful moments.
Thanks for reading Tell me Thursday. If you would like to see the WW photo that goes with this post please go to WW: Sort it out!
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Week 28th Feb 2010: Large family play….with Meagan Francis of www.thehappiestmom.com shares her experience of managing a family of 5 and play. When you have a large family the way you play may change and the dynamics of play.
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React and get rid of all commercial pretend play dressing up clothes
I don’t think this would teach them anything but to covet and long for these items even more. Limit the amount of play with commercial dressing up clothes from licensed products
This I now do more intentionally. Those items just disappear from their boxes for a time and the drs, vets, jesters,firemen, king costumes etc that are now lurking at the bottom get an air out and play. Yes they do ask me where their other costumes have gone with worried faces. They are old enough and used to rotation of toys that they understand that they will be back. They do come back. Introduce pretend play ideas
It is never too late, in my opinion to introduce fun and new ways to play. You can turn a child’s fascination and joy into another direction by showing them new ways. Now they may not want to do or continue to do what you suggest but the willingness of you to suggest and play with them usually is enough for them to give it a try out.
You have to get into it and really go with your best acting skills. Your child knows you so knows when you’re being half-hearted, as we know with them. Bluff and enthusiasm covers so much doubt and our feelings of inadequacy as parents. They don’t care that your voice is off key or that your costume is lame or your story making needs more structure…………we cripple ourselves with that worry. They love the interaction.
Here’s what I am going to try
Note 3 books that they love in the next week that are not to do with a superhero, which shouldn’t be too difficult given that less than 3% of our books are like that.
Think about the characters in those stories
Think about what I have around the house that I could use for the characters. With these 3 rules. Everyday items, keep it simple and easy to reproduce again.
When we/they read those books I’ll introduce my character with a new voice. Perhaps I’ll continue the story or go before the story.
Now since it’s not a mum show I’ll ask lots of questions to get them into the story. “What will happen to him next?” Where should he go? How should she do that? show me where the secret house is located? Tell me what happens next…… gradually easing out of the story and letting them continue.
Now they have a framework of a story and how to get there from a common storybook to pretend playing in costume and role. It’s not my story and neither will I say, that’s not how it goes.
Other things to encourage a range of role playing pretend play ideas I wish I had done at the beginning
Added sheets, pillow cases and lengths of material to their boxes. Shown them how the green duvet is grass today and magic carpet tomorrow.
Bought some ends of materials with various textures or visited the charity shops for sheets, curtains, ropes.
Visit the charity shops and allowed them to browse with story telling in mind. That funny shaped cup could have held a secret. Bought unusual things to add to their box.
Encouraged any of the places we visited like the Parent coop and preschool to encourage dressing up as characters from stories. The only dress ups actively encouraged was Halloween. Kids did come all the time dressed up in wellies or other costumes but there wasn’t a special day like World book day or a specific broad theme, like the nativity that you couldn’t sneak a superhero costume in. Although I’m sure there were a few princess costumes doubling as angel costumes.
I do worry about their story telling abilities if they are left to play superheroes and princesses all the time.
As parents and carers we need to be active encouraging a range of play opportunities. I’m looking for ideas. How would you and how do you deal with the Superhero/Princess invasion into their pretend play.
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