How unusual art can spark your child’s creativity... and maybe save the world!
An inspirational British artist called Michelle Reader uses creativity to raise awareness of the environmental issues that face all of us today – while also creating astonishingly beautiful sculptures out of other people’s rubbish. Sharing her artwork with your child is a fantastic way to let their imagination run wild, and embrace the kind of creative problem solving the next generation will use to tackle some of the challenges the world is facing.
Realistic-looking animals ready to soar, expressive sculptures of people and even moving models (including a dinosaur!) can all be seen on Michelle Reader’s website, and they are all made of recycling and rubbish. Find more information and a gallery of her work here.
Adventurous days – some simple ideas for adventures with your child
You might feel that your child can find an adventure anywhere. Their curiosity and desire to find new challenges can lead them to do things you just didn’t expect – which can feel hard at times as you balance keeping them safe and encouraging their sense of adventure.
It may be unnerving for you, as their parent, to see your child grow more curious and enthusiastic about the world. Children are often driven to achieve new goals, and they do not experience the same level of fear that gradually creeps up on us adults over time. When you participate in their adventurous play, however, you can ensure that your child is safe to take chances and face challenges.
Off to work we go – why getting your child to help at home could be great for their development
Do you have days when you feel like you’ve got to choose between cleaning, cooking and teaching your child something? You might feel like you've forgotten when you last saw the bottom of your washing basket, or be wondering what you should be making for the next meal – the good news is that getting your child involved in helping will teach them lots – and even better they will probably love it!
Helping with tasks in your home is something your child really enjoys at this stage of development. Not just tidying their toys away, but jobs they see as important because you do them. When children carry out age-appropriate tasks alongside you they feel like a connected and valued member of the household.
How helping at home benefits the brain...
Taking part in the daily tasks of family life involves a certain amount of repetition and routine – and this helps your child build on the cognitive skills they need to remember the order of steps involved in familiar tasks. Here are some simple ways to get your child involved, and why you should keep in mind that it is good for their developing brain (and your mental load) for them to chip in where possible.
Many of the tasks that we do to keep things moving or the house clean involve a sequence of actions or steps.
When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox by Jamie L. B. Deenihan, illustrated by Lorraine Rocha
In When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox by Jamie L. B. Deenihan, illustrated by Lorraine Rocha, you will be taken on a creative journey to discover why being given a gift you didn’t ask for might actually be the start of something magical! This is a lovely picture book to share, especially if you want to talk to your child about how to handle being gifted items that were not on a wish list – or explore the idea of making your own toys instead of always buying new ones.
The little boy at the centre of the story starts out being disappointed by a birthday gift of tools (when all he wanted was a dolls’ house) but goes on to discover just how powerful using a toolbox, and sharing time with a loved one in the process, can be.
A photo a day – let's chat away
Can you capture a moment on your camera at the same time once a day?
Samuel Ryde did! A London-based photographer, Samuel took one photo every day at 12.34pm for 10 years, purely to capture everyday moments. He took photos of things that he normally walked past without even noticing. These photos were taken wherever he was at that exact time.
Sam’s idea encourages us to start taking notice of the ‘normal’ – the things we stop looking at.
Your child’s knowledge and understanding of their world is ever growing, and even though children tend to notice more than adults,[1,2] they may not think the ordinary, day-to-day things they see are worth talking about, especially when little focus is put on them by their family and friends.
The benefits of touch and hugs are amazing – for you and your child
Touch is one of the first senses we develop, well before before birth.[1] It helps us learn about the world and feel connected with those around us. We express a variety of emotions through touch and it's an important part of developing relationships. When we hug someone, it is a sure-fire way of letting them know they are cared for and loved.
Hugs are great for lots of reasons – here are just a few!
How is your child’s attention developing?
The development of attention is well studied, and although different psychologists may call each stage by a different name, the information they give about each one is similar. Attention plays a big part in everyone’s life because it helps us to tune in and out of information, sensations and distractions, allowing us to stay focused on what's important.
Let’s have a look at the stages of attention here:
The positivity of understanding negative words for your child
How do your child’s senses help them to control their attention?
Attention and our senses are inextricably linked. When we control our attention to focus on something important, our brain needs to ignore other stimuli. Think about when you need to make a tricky manoeuvre in the car, do you turn the music off or down? This is your brain reducing sensory input to help you concentrate better. Your child is starting to be aware that they sometimes need to make a change to help them and their concentration.
Their senses help them to regulate their levels of alertness.
