Blog - The Imagination Centre

We talk a lot about all the benefits of sensory and messy play for children but what happens when our child is very reluctant to even get started? This is something we do come across in our classes and in my experience there are some tried and tested ways to engage a child in play. My most important piece of advice to never force a child to take part. New experiences can be scary and we need to respect their autonomy and be guided by them. I know if you have spent a long time setting something up or you've paid to attend somewhere it can be frustrating so gently reminding yourself of the end goal, to have a lovely experience with your child, will help. Join in yourself, demonstrate how much fun it is! Good energy is infectious and takes the pressure off the child and you. It also shows that getting messy is OK, good even! Let yourself enjoy the moment for what it is and don't worry about looking silly or getting covered in paint or gloop, it all washes off. Remember that everyo...

  You may have seen on previous blogs or on our social media platforms that we talk a lot about loose parts, process art etc. All of these come under the same category of open ended play! Open ended play is play with no rules, instructions or predetermined outcome, it is the rebel of the play world! If you're anything like me, that is appealing in itself, I have always struggled not to challenge the "rules"! But maybe you are more of a rule follower where everything has it's place and purpose? Read on and I'll share why having moments of playing like a rebel is the way forward! Imagination Open ended toys such as pegs, blocks, wood slices and wobble boards don't have a prescribed purpose, therefore children have to use their imagination and engage in thinking creatively. We have no idea what the world will be like in 20 years, that is why imagination and creativity are going to be so important for our kids! Independence A jigsaw puzzle will always have an end,...

 Getting something for free sounds too good to be true, right? Wrong! What if I were to tell you that some of the best resources for your child to play with were either already in your home or you could pick them up from outside? You might be starting to see where I'm going with this so let's dive in! Christmas has just been and you may have noticed that your small person was more interested in the box and the wrapping than the present inside, it's a tale as old as time! However, there is good reason for this. The box and wrapping are totally open ended, you could play peek-a-boo, turn the box in to a car, make a doll's House. That box can be anything you want it to be, physically it is and always will be a box, but using some imagination it can be anything you want it to be and it can change too! When you think about it, if there were a toy for sale that could be anything your child wanted it to be and it was cheap as chips, you'd be pretty sold! The box is a class...

  "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist as he grows up." Pablo Picasso This is where process art comes in! Process art is about the making and creating rather than the end product, this can sometimes be jarring as an adult. It is funny because in my work I am able to appreciate process art fully, we may have an idea but children are free to explore that however they want, even if that means spending the whole session painting their hands! At home, like many parents I meet, I have to make more of a conscious effort not to interfere! Here is why I know it is so important to let children be involved in process art. It Increases Self Esteem Letting children express themselves so freely and truly appreciating the process with adults who trust them is like magic! It can help to strengthen connection and relationships as you carve out time together and gives children time to relax. As it is open ended it means there is no failure so every child can be suc...

  Messy play is a lovely, exciting, tactile experience that helps children's development! Here are 5 easy ideas of bases* you can use to provide an enriching experience. Gloop Equal parts cornflour and water create this wonderful substance! Solid when squeezed or pressure is exerted, liquid as it trickles through your fingers. Mix it up with food colouring to suit your theme and add toys or kitchen utensils. Crazy Soap Foam Available to buy in most supermarkets, we LOVE this hypoallergenic foam. It's mouldable, clap your hands to create a snow like storm or squeeze it. Perfect for winter themed set ups or to create a foamy sea. Lentils Scooping, digging, pouring and sprinkling! Lentils are an inexpensive way of incorporating sensory play in to your day. Lentils are also perfect for practicing mark making and strengthening those fingers ready for writing later. Spaghetti Spaghetti can be coloured by boiling in water with food colouring. You can make anything from a rainbow to wi...

 Hand and foot print art can be surprisingly controversial! We now have so much access to "perfect" looking activities and crafts to do with your children, that actually look as if a child has been nowhere near them!  My passion is process art, child led creativity where we provide the tools and let them run with it. It is all about the process and doing rather than the perfect Pinterest-worthy finished piece. Process art covers so many learning opportunities, including problem solving, building fine motor skills and it builds self esteem. Many argue that hand print art doesn't encompass any of this, it is adult led and has a defined outcome with no benefit to the child. So, where do I stand? I am, perhaps rather boringly, on the fence. I see a place for process art and for hand prints and our classes reflect this. As a mother I know how quickly those tiny hand prints grow. I am so grateful to have a record over the years to look back on, even if they do make my heart ach...

  Are you the kind of parent who has lists drawn up 6 months ahead of your child’s birthday or do you leave it until 2 weeks before and then panic?! If you fall in to the second category we’ve got a fail safe party plan to take the stress out of party planning, so you can do the important things like celebrate keeping this small person alive for this many years! At Least 8 Weeks Before Plan the Date and Time - you want to ensure family and best friends can make it. Plan the Guest List - Are you going for the whole class or just close friends? Plan the Help - Many hands make light work! Plan the Venue - Are you having it at home or do you need to look in to hiring a hall? Plan the Theme and Activities - Chat with your child about what they would like, are you going to lead the party yourself or take the pressure off and hire an entertainer? Birthday Cake-  Professional, Supermarket or Home Made? Birthday cheat- buy a supermarket cake then add your own decorations ...

Easter is just around the corner, here's a fun craft you can do with the kids at home! I'm going to tell you how to make some fun and easy 'Easter Shakers'. You Will Need: Uncooked Rice Food Colouring Gel/Paint (as many as you like) 1 tbsp white vinegar Plastic Eggs Tape 1. Pop your rice inside a zip lock bag or tub. If you are creating more than one colour divide it equally. 2. Put a squirt of food colouring or paint in to each of your containers or bags. 3. Add vinegar to each batch of rice and seal your containers. 4. If you have a bag you are going to massage the colouring in to the rice, working it until all of the rice is covered. If you have a tub, simply give it a really good shake until all the rice is coloured. 5. Spread the rice out on a tray and pop it in a warm place to dry, this may take a couple of hours. 6. Once dried you can scoop a spoonful of rice in to your plastic eggs.  7. Seal each egg with tape to prevent spillages. 8. Put your favourite tunes on...

  Our baby taste safe sand is always a total winner! It crumbles like real sand but is also great for building sand castles. Most importantly, it's fine for our youngest crafty kids to play with and put in their mouth.* Here's our fail proof recipe! You Will Need: 2 Cups Plain Flour 1/2 Cup Couscous 1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil 1. Mix together the flour and couscous in a bowl. 2. Gradually add the vegetable oil a bit at a time, mixing thoroughly in between. 3.If any clumps develops use your fingers to crumble and break them down. If you would like to add food colouring, add this to the oil and mix before adding to the flour. Once it's ready pop it on a tray for your little one to explore, you can add buckets and spades for an authentic beach feel! *Please note children should not be left unattended whilst playing. This recipe may contain potential allergens.