Imagination Vacation

By Haven Mitchell-Rose 

Only a few weeks into school, and I for one could use a vacation. Luckily, I get to interact with little ones whose active imaginations transport us to any number of exotic locations, from a hovering alien hut on the moon, to a lavishly decorated palace. This week at our Explorers classes, the power of our little friends' imaginations helped us travel to the circus, and through the subway system. We also used imagination to create shapes, music, and movement. There is no limit to what a child's imagination can do, and now you and your little one can see where the following imagination activities will take you. 

Music Association

Music is a great way to get the creative juices flowing, and makes a great launch pad from which imagination can take wing. 

Materials:
Music player 
Your imagination 

Step 1: Play a piece of music for your child. This can be anything from Oldies to Classical and everything in between. Music should be continuously playing throughout this activity 
Step 2: Ask them what the music makes them think of or feel
Step 3: Ask follow up questions. For instance, if they say "It makes me think of being under the ocean," ask "what kind of fish do you see around you?" or "What do the fish look like?" or "What are the fish doing?"
Step 4: Bring it to life! If your child says, "I see an octopus over there" go to where they are pointing and become the octopus through physicality and octopus-esque vocal choices. 
Step 5: Encourage them to join you. Say, "Show me your best fish face, show me how a fish swims. Let's swim together!" swim around the room, you as the octopus, your child as the fish 
*Infant Modification: If you little one is pre-verbal and/ or pre-mobile, observe their movement, noises, and demeanor during the music, and dance around with them based upon their reactions to the music. 

MisMatch! 

Materials:
Blank sheet(s) of paper 
Pencils, crayons, markers
YOUR IMAGINATION 

Step 1: Orient the piece of paper so that it is Portrait style, and fold it into thirds. 
Step 2: Ask your child to draw a head on the top third. Don't look at what they are drawing! When they are done have them fold it up and pass it to you
Step 3: Draw a torso in the middle section. Don't let your child see what you draw! Fold it over again, and pass it back to your child (or to another child if one is present)
Step 4: Child draws a pair of feet. When they are finished unfold the paper, and look at the mismatched person you have imagined! 
Step 5: Work with your child to create this person. What is their favorite color? What is their job? What is there favorite food? What kind of home do they live in? etc...
*Challenge: Can your child and/ or you walk like your person? Or Talk like them? Or sit in a chair, or eat a snack or pick up toys like they would? 

Don't forget to share pictures of your mismatched person and/ or the music-inspired world you create to our Facebook Page with the hashtage #imaginespellbound 

This is Sharla. She likes to swim and eat dog food, but she does NOT like playing tag. 

Created by: myself and Annika Kline (age 4)