9 Creative
Ways to Help Kids Say I Love You
by
Susie Monday
Got
a tactile-learner? A kid who loves to dance? Or maybe your child really loves
color? While every child has a constellation of Sensory Alphabet strengths
(shape, color, movement and sound are just a few), your child probably has one
or two that really stand out — that you notice in his or her artwork or in
elements of his or her collections and activities. Valentine’s Day crafts
provide ways for parents to nurture these strengths and help kids say I love
you in fun creative ways. Below are craft ideas designed for each element of
the Sensory Alphabet.
SHAPE: Is your
child’s art always full of shapes? Cut out cookies! Make the process easier and
faster by using dough from the grocery store refrigerator case. Find
imaginative cookie cutters and combine shapes and words to say I love you in
new ways.
SOUND: Let sound-oriented
kids make a Valentine’s wind chime with metal, glass and wooden craft store
finds. Throw in everyday household items like bowls and plates to create loving
symphony.
COLOR: Make
"stained glass" cookies with color-loving kids, using bread stick
dough. Shape it to make the "leading" on a cookie sheet topped with
foil. Use crushed colored sugar candies in the spaces, cook at 350 degrees and
let the candies melt. Let cool before peeling off the foil. Experiment with the
colors and explore what else can represent love besides red.
MOVEMENT: Have your
kids spell out the letters of “I Love You” with their bodies, and then take
pictures. These can be used to create a sweet card or frame.
LIGHT: Appoint
the light-loving child as the official photographer for holiday events. A
lesson in digital app photo editing (PhotoPad is free for the iPad) or in
designing digital slideshows or print-on-demand books puts this creative eye
into action.
TEXTURE: Make a
Valentine’s card that focuses on touch rather than sight. Use bows, ribbons,
homemade tassels and other textured embellishments. Feathers and
sponge-and-paint prints are fun to cover things with.
SPACE: For
little builders, create a giant heart using recycled boxes wrapped in plain
paper or Popsicle sticks. Decorate it with stickers, markers, doilies and
colored paper. When it’s done create a set of keys, and have your child give
them to family and loved ones.
RHYTHM: With your
rhythm kid, fill small glass jars (such as baby food jars or small jelly jars)
with a tablespoon of different shake-able items such as beans, rice,
red-and-green beads, and metal washers. Decorate the lids with foil tied around
the tops and stickers for patterns. Shake along to Valentine’s songs.
LINE: A linear
thinker loves stories. Put him or her to work making handmade Valentine’s books
using photos that tell a story about the great love stories in your family.
Start with folded paper with a construction paper cover, hole-punched and tied
with string or stitched down the center on the sewing machine for the binding.
Matching
a creative thinking strength to the right set of materials and a fun challenge
can make it more fun -- and help your child build from his or her strengths.
Susie
Monday, educator and artist and co-author of The Missing Alphabet, A Parents’ Guide to Developing Creative Thinking
in Kids, with Susan Marcus and Dr. Cynthia Herbert. http:/www.themissingalphabet.com.
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