11
Schedule rhyme-time, says
Mio Debnam, a writer and
editor for children.
Challenge everyone to talk in rhyme
for a set period of time. It’s a fantastic
way to practise the concept that
can, and should, turn silly. Children
may force words into rhyme, but
this is a valuable way for them to learn
how rhyming works, says Mio, who
encourages no rules when it comes
to off-the-cuff rhyming: “Who cares
about metre or making sense, tell ’em
to plunge in, not sit on the fence!” she
says.
12
Get painting, says Sophia
Yoon of Seoul Sparkle.
Foam bubble paint, available from
seoulsparkle.com, is a fuss-free paint
that feels like bright-coloured shaving
foam. Made from natural sugar
extracts, the bubble paints add an
extra sensory layer when painting
at home. Stick it on a tray or some
silver foil and watch the fun happen.
There are plenty of other ways to
get painterly too, without spills and
splatters. Dot painters work like paint
but apply like markers, thus avoiding
lots of spills. Or practise the art of
pointillism (making pictures from
dots) using cotton buds as brushes and
an egg box as a disposable palette.
Crayola’s Colour Wonder series uses
clear pens and paints whose colour
appears only when used on the
accompanying paper.
13
Make muffins, says Whisked
Baking Studio founder
Kathy Li.
Promoting number skills and also
great fun, baking is the tastiest way to
bond. Having kids weigh and measure
ingredients is great for building maths
skills, and feeling flour against butter
or smelling ingredients (as well as
all-important tasting!) adds a sensory
element. Consider recipes without
too many steps unless kids are adept
bakers. Kathy’s go-to recipe is for
banana muffins – a wholesome treat
that enforces healthy eating.
14
Upcycle rainbows, says
Jasmine Nunns, who
founded Changemakers to promote
eco-crafting.
Introduce the concepts of reusing
and recycling household waste with
a themed activity kids will love.
Unfold an old cereal box and cut out
a large semi-circle that will form your
rainbow shape. Paint the colours of
the rainbow as a base. Glue colourful
items like old bottle tops, torn plastic
or paper bags, napkins, fabric or
wrapping paper to the corresponding
colours to build your 3-D rainbow.
“This is a great opportunity to show
your children that we can create art
from ‘ junk’,” says Jasmine, and it
works a treat with kids from two up.
15
Bonus: Stick it to the rain!
We couldn’t leave without
one of our own ideas – one that adds
some rhythmic fun to your rainy day
at home with kids aged two years
and up. Take the cardboard roll from
some wrapping paper and decorate
it. We like wrapping ours in coloured
crêpe paper streamers and topping
with stickers, but paints, crayons and
foil are all good alternatives. Cover
one end with foil and secure it with
an elastic band and masking tape,
then drop either loose toothpicks or
dried spaghetti inside the tube. Add
a selection of rice and dried beans,
lentils and pasta inside. Cover the
remaining end with foil, elastic band
and masking tape, making sure both
ends are secure. As your child turns
the “rain stick”, the items inside travel
down the tube at different speeds,
getting caught on the spaghetti and
mimicking the sound of pouring rain.
April 2014
63
