I know what you're probably thinking. A house? how is THAT pretend and magical thinking? Well I'll let you in on a little secret. When I was in elementary school I had to walk from my bus stop - situated at the end of my street - to my house (I live in a court). Everyday as I approached my house, I visualized my house as well as all the houses around it as a face. A face with eyes, nose and a mouth! The windows above the garage door are the eyes, the single lamp slightly above the garage door is the nose, and finally, the garage door is the mouth. When the garage door (mouth) opens and I walk in... I'm eatened and swallowed up by my house. I thought I was pretty genius and creative - others just didn't see what I saw.
Now you're probably looking back at my picture and trying to figure out the face. Am I right? Or you're looking at it with a blank face and don't see anything at all...
Still don't see it? Let me try to show you what I saw as a child (I tried making it obvious).
Still don't see it? That's unfortunate, it's my childhood pretend play and magical thinking at work.
Allow me to introduce to you Housdon. Born in October 26, 1994 he will be turning 17 years old this year! Both his parents are from Hong Kong, but he currently resides with them in a beautiful, and diverse neighbourhood in Mississauga, Ontario. At home he speaks Cantonese and Mandarin, but outside with his friends he speaks English. He's a really strong fellow and can seriously endure all kinds of harsh weather (literally). He loves to travel, drink ice cold slushies and munch on ketchup wish chips. He dislikes homework - math especially, and the smell of after rain. However, he's not your ordinary teenager. No! Every night when everyone is fast asleep, Housdon transforms into a rocketship and launches off into space each night to the Planet Housse where he operates a mighty fine factory of talking microwaves...
TO BE CONTINUED...
Pretend play and Magical thinking is I think the best part of every kid's childhood - it was for me, atleast. As an early childhood educator we have to give children the opportunity to pretend play. Children are creative; they can make just about anything come to life. They too can create their own story about an inanimate object or toy and let me tell you, when they do, it's going to be out of this world! It's so important that their pretend play and magical thinking are not simply brushed aside. Teachers need to encourage pretend play because it opens the door for increased creativity, use of language and social skills.
Art Word of the Week
Mass [mas] or Vol·ume [vol-yoom, -yuhm]
Schirrmacher & Fox (2009) described mass or volume as something that can be:
- heavy, bulky, massive; or light, delicate
- solid, impenetrable, block- like; or open, penetrable
- opaque or transparent
- geometric or organic
- static or dynamic
- angular or curved
- hard or soft
- stationary or moving
- large or little, big or small
Links:
The Importance of Pretend Play
Ways to Encourage Fantasy Play
Schirrmacher, R., & Fox, J. E. (2009). Art & creative development for young children (6th ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Thomson/Delmar Learning.
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