Make your own word search, start a poem collection, memorize a classic poem and more. Here are 5 fun word play activities you can do at home with children ages four and up. Word Play 1. Word Collection Make a word collection notebook, jar, or box. I like the notebook because kids (and I) can alphabetize our words - one letter per page. Start by reading poetry books and look for enticing, … [Read more...]
Mixed-Up Fairy Tales For Storytelling and Family Time
This summer, try telling mixed-up fairy tales for your family artists dates, road trips, plane trips, camping trips, bedtime, and even waiting rooms. Think of three different fairy tales and pick one from each -- a character, a setting, and a plot. Mix it all together in your own imaginative way and voila -- you have a mixed-up fairy tale. You are now a storyteller. :) Mixed Up Fairy … [Read more...]
Make a Date with Nature
Artist Date Guest Post from Debi Huang of Go Explore Nature. I love to seek creative inspiration from nature. Now that I have kids, I encourage them to do the same. Nature provides an endless and ever-changing landscape with an array of free tools and resources right at your fingertips. What better place to enjoy an artist’s date with your kids this summer than in nature? Create Your Own Rock … [Read more...]
Handy Dad’s Summer Fun With Kids
Have a Dad-Style creative artist date with your kids. Guest post by Todd Davis, host of HGTV’s Over Your Head and author of Handy Dad 25 Awesome Projects for Dads and Kids. A slip and slide is always so easy to do and guaranteed many laughs. Go to your local paint supply store and get a heavy duty plastic tarp that folds out lengthwise at least 20-100'. Then, go to your local park with a small … [Read more...]
Start Your Summer Artist’s Date with Inspiration
IDEAS AND INSPIRATION FOR ARTISTS’ DATES with Kids guest post by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich I loved Melissa’s summer artist's date post so much, I was just full to bursting with new ideas and old memories. And my mind immediately went...all over the place. I don’t know if anyone out there is at all like me, but sometimes I tend to be too much of “an ideas gal”, and can overwhelm myself with … [Read more...]
Stop and Give Me Five (Senses)
Ever go through your day in such a rush of busyness that you don’t stop to notice the moment -- any moment? Living mindfully helps us observe and trains our senses to absorb each moment. As writers, we use this to write with sensory details. Practice living mindfully and observing with your five senses. Even younger (not-yet-writer) children need practice becoming aware of their five … [Read more...]
Artist Dates with Kids
In her book, The Artist’s Way, Julia Cameron recommends artist dates with yourself. And I say, why not take an artist date with your child or your kids? She writes, “An artist date is a block of time, . . . committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist. . . a play date that you preplan . . . you do not take anyone on this artist date.” On her website she says, "The Artist … [Read more...]