PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

                Boxes.

     In the eye of a parent, they are junk and trash to be thrown out on the curb and the corner, to be picked up by a garbage truck.  But, in the eye of a child, a creative parent, or a creative pre-school teacher, they are more.  They are so more more.  Among other things, children can role-play various different things, gain in their self concept and self-esteem, and grow in their social skills.



Boxes are relatively easy and very in expensive, if not free.  A good place to look is stores such as supermarkets, or big-box stores such as Target.  These stores are usually very happy to get rid of the boxes and get good community relations credit at the same time.  Also, the families of children may have boxes that they would like to donate.



     They can be a TV, a puppet theater, a CD player radio, or a DVD player.  What is more fun than using any of those wlectronics?  Children making up their own program and watching children make up their own program.  In another article, I stated that the media does not offer children a lot of opportunities for creativity, so this is one area where children can find creativity.  In addition, children can learn about the process of creating something.



     They can be a car, truck, train, plane, etc.  Again, children can role play and learn about various roles and jobs performed by people involved with these forms of transportation-driver, ticket taker, etc.  They can talk about where they want to go.  Sometimes, two or more children may want to go to different places, so they can develop their social skills.  



     Boxes can also be made into a store, a school, a home, a post office, or whatever else kind of place, the children would like to make.  Again, no matter the place the create, children will be able to learn about and play the roles of the people there.  



Boxes are also great as costumes for children.  Some children enjoy being robots It is possible, that children may want to pretend to be inanimate objects, such as TVs or trains.  That is fine, as children are learning and playing a role.



     Finally, even the process can be fun and a learning experience.  Children can work together, gain in their social development, as they decide what the box should be that day.  Obviously, not all of the children are going to be happy.  However, children can be helped to compromise, so even if a child wanted to make the box a robot, but it became a TV for rhe day, he or she can still play a robot on TV.

     Also, the box does not have to be the same thing, every day.  Simple paints can be very helpful here.  One day it could be a TV, the next day it could be a supermarket.  Another day it could be a car, the next day it could be a train.