azapta.org

Why should Halloween costumes be limited to Halloween? Children enjoy playing dress-up year-round. It makes sense to get more use out of costumes by allowing children to play with them all year.

Parents may be astounded at how creative play is when children are playing dress-up. Since old costumes or clothes no longer suitable for wear would just be in the way otherwise and would be gotten rid of, it makes sense to give them instead to children.

Costumes can become part of dramatic play as well. Encourage the kids to perform in a play they develop. It can become a social event also; invite the neighborhood children to take roles and participate.

The children will also need to set a stage for their play. Be sure to make rules about what they can and cannot use for props. Fragile items perhaps aren’t the best idea for props. Whatever items kids are allowed to use, make a rule that what they take out they have to put away. An actual stage isn’t necessary, nor is a curtain – but if you can improvise a stage area with or without curtain it will add to the drama and impact of the production.

Another thing that kids love is when their parents take part in their plays. This lets the kids be silly with the parents, and also direct the parent’s actions. Don’t be critical of the performance, the play, or your own acting. Just relax and have fun.

Another idea is to tape the action and tuck the tape into a time capsule for future viewing in 5 or 10 years. Imagine how much fun the kids will have seeing their younger selves at creative play! Some plays that kids design they perform over and over, and others are performed with changes each time. Either way is fine.

If you do enclose a tape or disk of a performance in a time capsule, bear in mind the technology may be obsolete by the time the capsule is opened.

Another option is to write out the play as a script, and tuck this into the time capsule. Maybe in the future, your grandkids will perform it!

The author also often gives advice regarding things like fake security camera and remote video surveillance.

categories: children,kids,games,activities,fun,educational,parenting,learning,happiness,family,home,entertainment,improvement,hobbies