Creative play is important for young children. There are scores of products designed to help children develop, learn and express themselves. Unfortunately, many of these children’s products, toys and learning tools can be very expensive.
The good news is that parents can often improvise and make use of simple things within the house and in the backyard to have free or cheap fun playtime with their kids. The idea is to stimulate children’s imagination and let them be as creative as they possibly can. Check out the following ideas to help kids explore their creativity while keeping them amused.
Get Creative With Plain Paper
Sure, coloring pages in a book are fun but so can plain sheets of paper. Give the child some pencils and coloring materials and see what she comes up with. Set no rules or restrictions. Parents can help a younger child by drawing something on the plain paper first and see if the child can try to produce something similar. Alternatively, show the child a picture and ask her to draw it on the paper. An older, more independent child may be very competent in drawing and coloring her own creations.
Build Something With Free Empty Boxes
Big, empty cardboard boxes can provide creative play experiences for children too. Parents can get these for free. Just go to the local hardware store or grocery shop and ask for some boxes that are headed for the recycling bin. Get the kids to paint the boxes or cut them into fun shapes – cars, buses, spaceships, houses, skyscrapers, castles, etc. Huge boxes can even be converted into temporary cubby houses. The kids will have a blast with play boxes, especially inside the house on a rainy day!
The family backyard is full of potential when it comes to free creative play for children. Plants, flowers, fruit trees, vegetable plots, rocks and even dirt and bugs all provide fun learning opportunities for kids. Get the kids to plan a pretend tea party with pebble soup, mud pies and grass salad. Teach them the names of flowers, vegetables and plants by playing games like “I Spy”. If there is a sandpit in the garden, encourage them to build sandcastles or anything they fancy. Planting a vegetable plot will teach kids about healthy foods and healthy eating as well.
Play Dress up With Old Clothes
Children’s costumes are expensive. So why not let kids play dress up using Mum and Dad’s old clothes? Mum’s old party dresses, gloves and shoes can be creatively transformed into royal gowns and accessories. Do make sure the girls don’t trip while wearing high heels, though! Dad’s pre-loved jackets, shirts and hats too can be turned into cowboy outfits or wizard costumes.
Cooking Without a Recipe
Older kids who enjoy time in the kitchen will love the challenge of cooking without a recipe. Give them limited amounts of basic foodstuff and see what they can cook up. The “meal” may not be edible but watching the kids substituting one ingredient with another imaginatively is certainly worth the while.
Imagination and creativity are possibly the best, not to mention the cheapest, toys children can ever have. Make the effort to provide creative play opportunities for children. To have free or cheap fun playtime with kids, use plain paper, empty cardboard boxes, the family backyard and old clothes. Older kids can try cooking without recipes too to explore their creativity.
Found this article useful? Read also Having Fun in Playgroups and Making Clean-Up Fun for Kids.
References:
Fallows, Carol and Collier, Shayne. A Common Sense Guide for Australian Parents. New South Wales: Murdoch Books, 2004.
Leach, Penelope. Your Baby and Child. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2003.
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