This is a compensated review from BlogHer and LEGO ® DUPLO ®
I never understood what it meant to experience the world through a child’s eyes until I had a child of my own. Since giving birth three years ago, every day has been like living through a lens through a little person who is constantly experiencing his first. Everything I learn to do as an adult pales in comparison to what he learns, my paltry skill-building has no match for the level on which he grows. It has been amazing watching him learn to walk, learn to call me mom, and now, mom-mom-mom-mom-mom.
drawing outside the lines
One thing I have learned is that I cannot force creativity on him. I cannot give him a palette of finger paints and expect that he will create a rainbow. And really, can I expect an active, independent three-year-old to listen to instruction when it’s hard enough getting him to eat more than a plate of dino-shaped nuggets?
With my son’s creativity, I have to just go with it. He bursts out unexpectedly and sometimes I feel like I’m racing to catch up, to latch onto what he says and explore it. The other day he was shuffling his feet across the kitchen floor, moving from one end to the other. Without looking at his mother and father, he said, “I’m a train! Choo-choo!”
If I see him drawing like mad, I ask him if there’s a story there. Sometimes he doesn’t want to talk and I have to accept it and let him work on his own. Artists. Hmmph. Other times he’ll let me know which scribble is Mommy (usually the round one) and which one is Daddy and which one is his cousin who lives 30 minutes away.
When I see him absorbed with his DUPLO blocks and placing them in a hodgepodge of situations that are not shown on the box, I don’t tell him how it should be. I let hi play on his own terms, creating his own world the way he wants to. Unless he pulls me into his playtime and wants me to be the conductor, I am just an appreciative audience member.
When he dances to music and he practically yells, “DANCE MOM! NOW!” I obey immediately. I get up and move with him, performing sillier and wackier moves that delight this little human. It’s so freeing to be with someone who doesn’t judge me either, and who allows me access into his world to experience it with him.
My son is an exuberant child and his constantly growing brain is a gift. I could never have imagined that I would be so lucky to have a little boy who loves life. As his parent, I remind him, “I am on your schedule. I am speaking your language. You don’t have to prove anything to me.”
You can read other DUPLO stories on BlogHer.com special offers page. I’m sure I’m not the only one raving!
Time’s up! Thanks for entering!
LEGO DUPLO is offering a $20 LEGO gift card to one Kirida reader! To enter for a chance at this prize, leave me a comment below, sharing how you get creative when stimulating development in your kids. Alternately, you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin at 9:00 a.m. (PST) December 14, 2009 and will end 8:59 a.m. (PST) December 21, 2009. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is valid so I may contact you when you win.
Rules:
1. No duplicate comments.
2. You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
3. You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
4. This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older.
5. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
6. You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
Please see the official rules here: Official rules
Winner to be chosen via the Random Number Generator.
We pick up leaves around the neighborhood, put them in our treasure pail (a plastic beach pail), bring them home, and glue them to construction paper. I squeeze on the glue, since her 2 – year – old hands are not strong enough yet, and she places the leaves on the paper.
We have a low art shelf with art materials available to use whenever a creative mood strikes. Right now there are feathers, glitter glue, and buttons that are the current rave.
We love legos. My boys are 15 and 12 and we still “play” with legos. We have contests to see who can build the most creative _______ (whatever subject we choose).
I find that my children are best stimulated by providing them and environment that allows them to be creative and free-thinking, which is shy Legos are such a wonderful toy! We have lots of blocks, shape patterns, Legos, play dough, crayons, blank paper, paint, etc. and all items are readily accessible by the children when they want them – I don’t keep things locked up! I try to support and assist but I don’t direct or tell them how to do their creative endeavors! We are always busy with something.
my 2 1/2 yr old and i made a gingerbread house tonight…it was messy and gooey…but to see the smile on his face…plus when he found out the icing wasn’t “glue” he was even more pleased as we told him he could eat some..it was a joy to see him design with the candies
I would say the kitchen is a really good learning place. There are so so many things a kid can do..From basic colors and naming foods to measuring ingredints..I let my 4 yr old load the dishwasher and practice counting at the same time.
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/tatum810/status/6884622680
I love legos. They are especially calming to my oldest of 11 who is bi polar and needs a “fiddley” toy that is not a toy that he can just be alne with and create with his own style
THANK YOU
My son is 1 year old so we do a lot of discovery with textures. He has a water/sand table. We paint with sponges, fingers, forks, etc. I am also in the process of creating a noodle bin…(A container filled with uncooked noodles and all different objects and toys for him to play with and discover.
my son also enjoys playing boardgames with me and has to use his imagination for some of them. His favorite area at daycare is the lego area.
My children and now my grandchildren release their creativity with the thanks of LEGO.
I let my kids create where ever they want. My son especially has a wonderful imagination. He is so many things through out the day. I leave everything at kid level that they can create with. It sometimes leaves me to bend over for measuring cups etc but it’s SO worth it