The Playful Parent™Games, crafts, and activities for playtime with parents and kids
WHY WE PLAY: Research has shown that the ability to play is a critical part of maintaining a happy lifestyle, of sustaining social relationships, and fostering a creative and innovative personality. Play actually shapes the neuron paths in the brain and makes us smarter and more adaptable to life circumstances. Additionally, a healthy play-life as a child is a surprisingly accurate predictor of career success as an adult. 1 And...it's fun to play. So what are you waiting for? Use this Playful Parent idea to share a little bit of play-life with your children today! --- MUSIC MADNESS It’s easy for kids to get up and dance, but sometimes grown-ups feel goofy bopping around the living room. It’s time to put those inhibitions aside, crank up the stereo, and have some fun! Summary: Family members will sing, dance, and play along with music. Best For: Younger kids will join in no matter what, but you might be surprised to see your teens getting into the fun too—it’s hard to resist music!
Supplies:
Music and a way to play it (stereo and CDs or something like that!). When you’re ready to play!
Try a few of these
music-based ideas based on the interests and ages of your kids.
• Air band. Use anything you
have around the house to make instruments that you can use to play along
with the music. Pencils can be drumsticks, and a pillow or table can be a
drum. Hair brushes, spoons, curling irons, or markers are perfect
microphones. Look around for things to turn into guitars, keyboards,
horns, or anything else you dream of playing. Then…rock out! Turn up the
music and sing and play along.
• Make up new lyrics. Choose
songs that you already know the tune to (this can be as simple as “Row,
Row, Row Your Boat” or as complex as a song you hear on the radio), and
make up new words to go along with that tune. They can be funny, be about
someone in the family, be about a pet you wish you had, be about your last
vacation, or anything you can think of. Perfect for helping kids learn
about rhyme and meter…and lots of laughs along the way!
• You think you can dance?
Make up smooth moves as choreography for one of the songs you love. Get
your kids to think of actions and dance steps, then memorize them all
together. You’ll be getting exercise along the way—and next time you’re at
the mall and that song comes on, see if you’re tempted to dance along in
unison!
• Make a music video. You
might video yourselves as an air band, singing your new lyrics, or doing
your clever choreography—or you can add new creative juices and shoot
footage to go along with the lyrics. Send your creation on to friends or
post in on YouTube.
1 Source: Play by Stuart Brown, M.D. (New York: Avery, a member of the Penguin Group USA, 2009.) Pp. 4-13 ---
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