Encouraging creative play

Your family has some great ideas to help your child get the most out of creative play

Published 03 Mar 2008
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Make a pretend ‘meal’ Give tired ideas a lift by turning them into play projects. Get out the play dough or air-drying clay and set goals, such as creating food for a dolls’ dinner party, inventing monsters or racing to see how many clay sausages children can make in one minute.
Display your child’s art “Make an art gallery at home with your kids’ pictures and collages and invite all your relatives and friends round to see. This is great for your child’s self-confidence and gets them to work towards a goal.”

Claire Halsey, clinical psychologist and mum of three boys

Get musical All children love singing, particularly if their parents join in and take part. Throw in some musical instruments and create your own band!

Play tip from the Early Learning Centre

Designing cards and wrapping paper “Help your children design their own Christmas cards and wrapping paper with stencils or potato prints on plain paper and use them to wrap presents. It will give your child satisfaction and will receive more appreciation for their efforts from the recipient of the wrapped gifts, both of which will build their self-esteem.”

Claire Halsey, clinical psychologist and mum of three boys

Recycle and play Be an eco-parent and help children recycle your old cardboard and plastic into a junk modelling fantasy world for dolls and action figures. Old toys will have a new lease of life when they have new worlds to explore.
Bake some cakes Teaching your child how to bake fairy cakes is great fun and will encourage a positive attitude towards food and cooking. “Making fairy cakes with my daughter is a great bonding experience. We have such fun together that I don’t even care about the mess afterwards.”

Hayley, mum of Phoebe, 3

Make models Have a go at making play dough together and then have fun modelling all sorts of different shapes — animals, flowers, little bowls — it will encourage children to use their imagination.
Make maths fun “Combine the play kitchen, tea set and your monopoly money to create a busy café. It’s great to encourage their numeracy as well as their imagination.” Julie, mum of Saul, 5

Words: Suzanne Baum. Illustrations: Ana Diaz