Simple art healing activities for kids that adults love too!
If you are like me then you are always on the lookout for wholesome activities to do with your kids . . . especially if those activities bring you closer together, and help you express yourselves and heal.
I put together this list of a few of my family’s favorite methods to date. These activities have been used as we have navigated our way through separation, death, and most recently Hurricane Dorian. Each of the activities include a materials list, a summary of the activity, and a few prompts to get the conversation started.
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Additionally, these art activities don’t require much clean up, because as a mom I know that the last thing you want to do after an awesome bonding session with your child is to have to immediately switch gears and clean up a messy area.
Happy crafting!
Paper bag puppets are a great way to reenact scenarios or share ideas without your child feeling that they are the ones in the hot seat. Also, saying things out loud can help make sense of confusing situations.
Creating the puppets out of a simple paper bag is a cost and environmentally effective way to create something amazing quickly without the tediousness that would be required to make a puppet from felt.
With kids in this age range, I find it best to create a simpler project that allows us to focus on the mission at hand (healing and bonding) before our littles lose interest.
My son actually loves creating new puppets every once in awhile, so we have amassed quite a collection!
Prompts:
:: Just say it. Even if it sounds silly. Worst case you’ll end up being silly together which will bring you closer.
:: It’s kind of like the first rule of Improv Comedy.
For a good improv skit the primary rule is to always agree/say yes. If your kiddo says “and then the aliens came down in their spaceship”, DO NOT try to bring it back to the topic that you thought you were discussing.
:: Go along with your child’s imagination and weave your lesson into their storyline. By agreeing with your child you are acknowledging and validating that they are creative, idea-making beings!
This project starts the conversation of creating a vision for your life. And although life goals may change (preaching to the choir amiright?), this project is fantastic for beginning the important conversation of, “Who is it that you want to be?”
Materials:
:: 3-Ring Binder
:: Plastic Sheet Protectors
:: Pictures, photographs, and other treasured momentos (cards, movie/concert tickets, feathers, shells, stickers etc.)
Prompts:
:: Ask your child: What are your favorite things? What do you love doing? How can his/her answer be translated to a finding for the binder?
:: Keep it simple. Make it fun for you and your little to dream and plan for your futures.
:: Do this exercise simultaneously with your little.... Maybe y’all share some life goals.
:: Don’t be afraid to share your dreams with your little. Your examples inspire them to dream bigger. Who knows, you sharing a dream that has been put on hold with your child may be just the push you need to get it off the ground.
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