Posts in the Imaginative Play category

Wax is unmoved without heat. The amazing quality of wax is its ability to transfer heat. Through persistent kneading, rolling and squeezing wax is overcome by your energy, will and purpose. Combining the wax with other found objects led to whimsical absorbing play.

I learnt something the other day. One of our students focus children has been increasingly labelled a problem child by staff because he loves to build tall towers and knock them down. This has been treated as out of control and overly boisterous behaviour. Why did it come to this?

The forest - the grim, dark, rejuvenating, life-giving, mysterious forest. In folktales the world over, there's something special about going into the forest. The hero on his or the heroine on her quest inevitably treks deep into the forest. There are helpers and dangers along the way. In one lovely Danish tale, three brothers take it in turn to set out through the forest to bring a healing apple to an ailing princess. When they lose their way an old lady appears, asking what they have in their basket. The first two brothers don't spare her the time of day,...

Painting a tiger or a snake or a butterfly on a child's face is similar to the child donning a mask. If you've dabbled in Commedia or theatre or even just tried masks on, you'll know there's a certain power in a mask. It's akin to donning a new persona. When I tell stories to kids I use masks, and each one, whether it be a crow or a galah or the mighty sun, brings its own energy and power. Some masks used in Tibetan ceremonies are kept locked away all year, and only brought out for an annual ritual. And...

The boys have had Tim's swords for over a year now and they are their pride and joy. They have held up to some serious battles with dragons and knights and not so serious jousting with each other. When we gave the swords we had to have the discussion about rough play and how to use the swords in a creative, imaginative way. I have been suprised how little I have had to speak to them about the inappropriate use of the swords. These swords should be treated with the respect a serious knight would give his swords. We have...