Snazzy Suggestions to Spunk Up Your Child's Block Play

    What child doesn't love blocks? I don't even know an adult who doesn't. The simple yet classic educational toy has inspired multiple generations. Over the years they have evolved and been reinvented in many different styles and ways.
     Here are some ideas  to enhance your child(ren)'s creative thought processes and produce more meaningful learning experiences during their block play.

Assemble Family Member Blocks 

Start by taking full body photos of each member of your family. Print them out in a size that will fit on the blocks the children are using. Use clear contact paper to adhere them to individual blocks.  This idea can also be executed by mounting the photos on cardboard and using a black metal binder clip on the bottom of each one so they stand up. Children will love playing with their family and friends inside their block buildings either way.

Make Signs

Encouraging children to create signs to incorporate into their creations will not only expand their thought processes but it is also a great way to exercise their literary skills. Maybe it's an open sign for their grocery story or road signs for their city. This idea can also open the door for your child to want to include their drawings in their block structures as well.

 Include random objects and materials

Want to challenge your child's creative thought process? Try having your child build with recycled boxes and containers, paper towel rolls, old CDs, and things from nature or include some of these materials with the blocks. Other items such as old marker caps, corks, sugar cubes, foam blocks (The foam blocks are a safer alternative to wood blocks for all toddler builders), random wood or plastic pieces for ramps, and pipe cleaners are fun to explore as well.

Paint some blocks

Why not have your child(ren) paint some of their blocks? I suggest acrylic paints for this. This idea will surely add some spunk to their creations and may even be a gateway into more creative ideas. Don't worry it's pretty easy reinvent old designs or touch up mistakes using the magic of a layer or two of white paint. Use Elmer's glue to add glitter if you dare or wrap some blocks in aluminum foil. 

Display Pictures of Famous Buildings From Around the World

 By displaying famous real life architecture from around the world, you will not only inspire your child but you will also provide opportunity to discuss different places. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Eiffel Towel, The Golden Gate Bridge, The Arc de Triumph, The Sphinx, The Great Wall of China and The Statue of Liberty are some ideas to get you started. Try including a world map in your display as well so child can decide where they want their structure to be located.

Have Children Draw Creations Before and Afterwards

 I highly recommend children practice transferring their ideas from 2D to 3D and from 3D to 2D. This activity is not easy but practice is key.

    Try including toy animals or toy people in the setup of the toys to inspire new ideas... or incorporate letter blocks into the mix as another way to incorporate literacy. Block play provides a great opportunity to work with your child on shapes, colors, and counting as well. No matter what you took away from this article, remember that this is supposed to be fun for your child(ren) so don't force anything. Their natural interests and curiosities should lead the way and that is the key to meaningful learning.

Stay inspired everyone!

Below I have included links to relevant and recommended materials on Amazon for your convenience.

Exciting Scientific Ways to Explore Colors with Your Child

   Lets be honest... Colors are fun and mixing them... well that's just awesome!  It is also the key to integrating science into your child's art experiences. Here are some colorful experiment ideas for your child to explore:

*Color Changing Flower Experiment: You're going to need white cut flowers (carnations, tulips, roses), a vase, water and some liquid watercolors or food coloring. Your child will be fascinated watching how the flowers transform as they drink up the colored water. What happens if once the flower starts turning red, you place it in blue colored water? Introduce the idea to your child as an experiment and without giving away the result. Remind them that process will take time. This is the perfect activity to incorporate into the discussion of plants, gardening or Spring time. Encourage and/ or assist your child in documenting the changes they notice. They can draw pictures and explain to you their observations as you or they write them down.

*Coffee Filter Color Mixing: Coffee filters are a great and inexpensive canvas for your child to explore blending colors. You can do this in a number ways. Liquid water colors with eye droppers is my personal favorite. Not only does it feel more scientific for your child while they practice using the eyedroppers to distribute colors but the colors come out the most vibrant. An easy alternative would be to use Crayola markers and have you child decorate the filter, then watch what happens when they spray down their designs with water. They will love using the spray bottle! I recommend placing the wet coffee filters on watercolor paper or some kind thick paper. The markings their designs leave are gorgeous.

* Moving Colors in Milk Experiment: You'll need a small plate (with some dip to it so it can hold the milk), food coloring, milk, dish soap and Q-tips. Pour some milk onto the plate so it covers the entire bottom surface. Allow your child to drop colors into the milk with food coloring. They can choose how they want to arrange the colors, but encourage them to keep them fairly close together. Talk to them about creating patterns. When their design is finished, allow the child to dab dish soap into areas of their design using a Q-tip. Make sure to take it slow and experience the results of each dab. Watching the colors move and swirl is always exciting and designs will vary every time.

*Blending Colors on Cloth: You'll need an old bed sheet for this one, along with some Sharpie markers, spray bottle or dropper and rubbing alcohol. Depending on the child(ren)'s age, this one definitely requires supervision. Cut the sheet into a manageable size (maybe a little smaller than a washcloth). One sheet will provide for multiple works of art. Have your child decorate the material using the Sharpies. Encourage the child to fill the entire space. Decorating a white t-shirt could also be fun. After the design is complete use a dropper or spray bottle to distribute the rubbing alcohol on the material. If you decide to do a t-shirt, make sure to place a piece of thick cardboard or cookie sheet pan inside the shirt to prevent colors from blending onto the back. Watch and enjoy as the magic happens!

*Coming Together of Colors Experiment: This one is easy. All you need are two glasses, liquid watercolor or food coloring, some paper towel and water. Fill each glass with different colored water. I recommend starting with two primary colors to investigate how to make secondary colors. Place the glasses side by side and connect them using a rolled up paper towel with one end tipped in each glass. Where the colors meet after being absorbed by the paper towel will answer their color mixing questions. I definitely recommend using this as a tool to discuss how different colors are made, primary vs. secondary colors as well as cause and effect.

    These ideas are fun no matter how they are presented but the more thoughtful and excited you are about them, the more excited the children will be. Use words and terms such as: investigate, observations, experiment,  cause & effect, and results to enhance the experience.

Good luck and have fun!

Nine Nifty Non-Brush Ways For Your Child(ren) to Paint

     Ready to challenge your child's creative mind? Try replacing their paint brushes with these unusual materials. I bet they'll love the randomness and  they may conjure up some ideas of their own. No matter what, their artwork will feel like an adventure.

So lets get started.

1. Nature- Incorporating nature into your child's learning experiences is truly the "Reggio Way". If you are unfamiliar with the Reggio Emilia philosophy I highly suggest you look into it. By giving your child(ren) the opportunity to paint with flowers, pine cones, pine needles, twigs / sticks, leaves, acorns, or any other natural material, they will not only discover beautiful new kinds of markings and strokes but they will also gain a greater appreciation for the beauty in the nature that is around them.

2. Balloons- Balloons are fun... period. Balloons + Painting... Now that is going to be the best time ever! Perhaps suggest this idea as a way to settle down after a birthday party or an exciting game of "Don't Let the Balloon Touch the Ground".

3. Bubbles- This activity will have your child blown away. Add watercolor to your child's bubbles and teach them how to aim when they blow their next masterpiece.

4. Toy Cars- You can really play up this idea by providing children with  materials to experiment with such as ramps and different sized toy cars with different kinds of patterns on their tires. I definitely wouldn't let your child use their favorite toy cars for this.

5. Yarn- I love the effect of this when the strokes of the yarn stay visible on the paper. Trust me, there are plenty young artists who will use the yarn as an excuse to go hands all in... and all the power to them. That's awesome and it definitely speaks to their personality.  Remember, it is their experience and exploration that matters most, not the final product.

6. Hands and Feet- Mentally prepare yourself for this one because it sure can get messy. That's what makes it so fun though! Your child will either love or despise this activity depending on their sensory tolerance. Offer plastic gloves as an alternative to bare hands. I recommend this be an outside activity and have plenty of paper on hand.

7. Bottles- This is a trash to treasure story, especially when your child realizes the bottoms of bottles stamp fun flower shapes. They can explore the difference in markings when they roll the bottle, stamp the bottom and stamp the top. I'm sure they'll have plenty of new techniques of their own. I recommend this as Spring time activity for its flower shapes and easy translation into an Earth Day learning experience. Every day should be an Earth Day.

8. Q-tips- This is an easy clean up activity. I recommend tying the experience to learning about Pointillism and exploring Australian art  (Australian Dreamtime Art). Showing children different kinds of art from different countries makes the learning more meaningful (and fun of coarse). It also provides a vehicle for inspiration for future projects and learning.

9. Kitchen Utensils- Your child will surely cook up some fun artwork with these tools. Why not do this activity after a morning or afternoon of baking together? I would say a rolling pin, spatula, fork, spoon and a whisk would be my first go to. I would recommend purchasing plastic utensils that the child(ren) can continue to play with afterwards... in their art, play kitchen or with their play dough.

Now off you go! Have some fun!

Good Luck everyone! Please share your thoughts, other ideas and experiences below!