Promoting Creativity through Arts and Crafts

 

When our family initially started homeschooling and developed our philosophy of education, we decided that creativity was a trait that was important to us and one that we wanted to develop in our children.  According to one of my favorite books about creativity, one of  the best gifts we could give our children is to provide them with ready-materials and time.  It’s important to let them invent, create, and have fun.  It sure makes a mess, but it’s worth it!  Arts and crafts projects that don’t use pre-drawn patterns or designs allow children to create and develop according to their view of the world.  Here are some ideas for some of the craft projects we did:

• Paper mache’ — create sculptures or scenes using newspaper and flour & water glue.  After it dries, paint with Tempra paints and add twigs, stones, dried moss, aluminum foil or mirror rivers and lakes, etc.  Great fun!  We once created the Garden of Eden doing this.
• Sawdust and glue — similar to paper mache’ but using fine sawdust and Elmer’s glue instead.
• Make kites — use a plain template and paint or color designs on the kite body to make your own design or check online or the library for books and kite shapes.
• Wooden objects — children seem to enjoy crafting with wood, so we bought lots of different ‘wood’ things from the craft store and let them paint, decorate, hammer, nail, etc. to make things.  Stencils are helpful in adding designs like planes, trains, etc.  When homes were being built around the neighborhood, we would ask the contractor if we could take the wood scraps home.  They were happy to get rid of them and they provided raw materials for some great homeschool building projects.
• 3-D art using foam shapes, twigs, dried legumes, etc.  Fun to use a basic design on tag board and then glue objects on it to make a collage or work of art
• Computer art — using simple programs that teach 3D animation, computer graphics, or photo editing.
• Kits — lots of fun!  Go to Michael’s or Craft Warehouse and look at all the kits that are available.  Latch hook rugs, felt art, beading, etc. can all be fun for both girls and boys.  Boys enjoy making latch hook rugs in an airplane theme!
• Candle-making — either dipped candles, molded candles or rolled candles using beeswax.  Kids especially have fun with this project:   take an aluminum pie plate and hold a regular candle up in the middle of the plate.  Then pour melted, colored wax into the plate.  Gently dip the plate of wax in a sink full of cold water.  The hot wax will rise to the top and will ‘hug’ the candle, making a candle holder.  Work as a team, as hot wax can burn.
• String art — look online for designs.  A pattern looks somewhat like a dot to dot page, but without the numbers.  Colored string is sewn on the page in sequences that create a woven effect and make beautiful pictures — of ships or buildings — etc.
• Watercolor — really fun and helpful if you can find someone who is willing to give a few lessons first.  Use ‘cheater’ techniques to help get started with watercolor (like dot stickers that keep paint from sticking somewhere when you first coat the page, etc.).  Small paintings make great Christmas gifts for family.
• Sewing. Boys love sewing machines!  And so do girls.  Make them earn their driver’s license first (to teach machine safety) and then give them small projects where they create designs — hot pads, pillows, and other small things are fun.  Or, have them turn a t-shirt inside out and sew up the neckline and the sleeves.  Turn right-side-out and stuff will pillow stuffing.  Then stitch up the bottom. Sewing designs on paper is a good way to develop fine motor skills.
• Theme quilts — have them make quilt blocks on a theme (we made one with a dog theme and another with an airplane theme).  Use muslin for the blocks and cut them out in 10″ squares.  Using fabric crayons, permanent markers, appliques, buttons, or photo transfers (where you print off photos onto transfer paper and then iron them onto fabric) to create blocks in the selected theme.  Give grandma a block to make — and one to dad — and one for mom — etc.   Then have the child sew the blocks together with printed fabric (also in their theme — they have fun going to the fabric store and choosing something that strikes their fancy).  The quilt top is pretty easy to make.  Add a back (stitch together like a pillow case with thin, rolled padding for the middle and then turn right side out).  Tie with yarn and stitch up the turn-space by hand.  Easy and really valued by the child when done!
• Flower and weed arrangements. Make wicker and twig (or silk flower or dried leaf) arrangements or wall hangings.  Cool glue guns, fabric ribbons (printed in themes kids like) etc. all work together to make small objects, arrangements, wall-hangings, etc.  The fun is the process — and they make nice gifts for family members.
• Ceramics. We had a great time with ceramics!   A ceramics shop has green-ware that they will show you/your child how to clean (using tools kind of like a dentist uses).  After it’s cleaned, they will bake it for you in a kiln for a small fee.  Then have child apply a glaze and take it back to the ceramics shop to be processed in the kiln again.  We chose projects like gazing balls, vases with multi-colored glazes that melted and make funny patterns, chess game pieces, etc.  You can also get plain clay from them — like play-dough.  Statues, objects, free-form pots, etc. can all be made.  When done and dried they can be fired and glazed as well.
• Model rockets and model airplanes — plastic or paper — ones that fly or are used just for decoration — all are fun and teach creativity and following directions.  Allow your child to think ‘outside the box’ as they create on their own using the base kits that are available at craft stores.
• Model airplane paints work great for painting designs on stones for paper weights.  Be sure to buy the type of paint that is safe to breathe!
• Legos. For art — never negate the value of Legos when it comes to developing creativity!  So many skills are learned with Lego building.  You might assign specific projects with Legos — a complete village or building or vehicle.  Take a picture of the finished project to remember it by.
• Photography. Art principles can be taught and artistic skills developed using photography as the vehicle. In addition to taking pictures, students can start a photography blog where they post their photos. Photography can easily be used to teach "across the curriculum". Nature study, composition and writing, art principles, and human relationships are just a few subjects that can be incorporated into photo studies.

Happy creating!  Children are only limited by time, resources, and their imaginations!

Play is Child's Work

Through play children learn much about life and develop skills that will enhance their future. Through running, skipping, and hopping children develop gross motor skills. Fine motor skills develop through activities like stringing macaroni beads, finger painting, and cutting out paper hearts. Creativity and imagination are developed through role playing, and with proper tools like toy cars that could really drive, a child's sized kitchen, or dolls and stuffed animals, children learn to become adults as they mimic their behavior. Who knew that being a child could be so much work!

A Child's Contact with Nature

Edith Schaeffer has always been one of my favorite authors. Recently I discovered that her gift for writing was passed along to her daughter, Susan. In her book For the Children's Sake she reminds us to give our children many opportunities to spend time in nature. And I love how she says it!

"Although we should give a child access to varied creative work by other people, how about seeing that he grows up with as much daily access as possible to his Lord's created works? The Bible is a direct verbal word. But we have a place also for other ways of knowing Him, for "the heavens declare the glory of God."

"Do the children know the feel of dew-fresh grass on their bare feet, and lush freshness of the shade of a leafy tree on a hot afternoon? Do they know the fun of autumn leaves, and the fairy-tale beauty of an icy morning? Wherever the child lives in the world, we should consider his contact with nature as part of his life."

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, For the Children's Sake
page 85

A Creature of the Creator

"Man was created in the image of a Creator.  Man was created that he might create.  It is not a waste of man's time to be creative.  It is not a waste to pursue artistic or scientific pursuits in creativity, because this is what man was made to be able to do.  He was made in the image of a Creator, and given the capacity to create - on a finite level of course, needing to use the materials already created - but he is still the creature of a Creator."

~Edith Schaeffer ~  

CrEAtiViTY Found in Nature

As homeschool parents, we generally think of nature study as a way to learn about science, or to learn about God through it, His second book.  Sometimes we view time in nature as a means for recreation and physical activity.  But this time can also provide impetus for creativity!  Nature study can produce creative results, stimulates creativity, and refreshes ideas.  It becomes a means of creating and achieving artistic expression.  Nature as a means of creative expression requires time that is spent in quietness and observation.  It is a time that happens without motors and gadgets.  A good pair of walking shoes, binoculars, a sketch pad and pencil, a bottle of water, and a small backpack to carry things in are the only resources needed.  Hiking through fields and meadows, climbing mountain trails, observing on the ocean shore, and meandering along a stream or river provide opportunity to gather, collect, and observe.  The process brings refreshment to the tired and weary, eliminating the stresses of daily life.  Even children find respite from daily stress as they spend time in nature.

How does nature observation provide a means to creativity?  It stimulates creativity in many ways.

*Nature contains every color palette ever created.  Complimentary,
analogous, and monochromatic color schemes can all be found with a
little effort and an impromptu treasure hunt.

* Nature provides a plethora of ideas for creative writing.  Subjects
can be found for story, verse, or poem simply by looking around.

* Nature shows variable subjects for sketching and watercolor.

* Nature presents objects for sculpture.  A collection of rocks,
twigs, dried plants, and sand can be glued together to make
magnificent displays.

* Nature brings many things that work together to create a centerpiece
or focal point for a space indoors.  Twigs, rocks, moss, and flowers
can create whimsical scenes on the kitchen table.

*  Nature is a perfect place to practice photography.  Waiting quietly
for a bird or animal to come near, or staging a scene, give the
participant quiet time in nature as creative abilities are enhanced.

The opportunities nature provides are endless!  Children can gather rocks, leaves, flowers, bark, and sand.  Or they can search for feathers, arrowheads, egg shells, and nests.  They can draw what they see.  They can tell about their observations by writing in a journal.  When they "glass" what they see with binoculars or scope their perspective changes.  Children can build forts or blinds.  They can observe wild animals, birds, tadpoles, frogs, salamanders, and snakes.  They can picnic on a point, or build sandcastles on the beach.  They  can sleep in a tent in the woods, or hike trails and post markers along the way.  Every experience in nature replenishes the soul and stimulates the creative aspects of the brain.

God created a universe that is personal, alive, vibrant, and ever changing.  As we experience it with our children, we reinforce appreciation for Earth and the creativity it fosters in each being who takes the time to notice it.  Through experiences in nature our children gain a better understanding of an infinite God as He speaks to the soul.

Nature and Creativity

"It is in nature, among the things which God has created, designed and brought forth himself, that we are in the most natural atmosphere to be inspired. Creative ideas are apt to flow in the midst of the creativity expressed in God's creation, as one is temporarily from the confusion of conflicting voices..." 

The Hidden Art of Homemaking Page 169 - 170

Blender Moss

When nature is combined with a kitchen activity, it's a winning situation as far as children are concerned.  They generally enjoy playing in the dirt, gathering things, mixing, blending, and creating.  If there is an area in your yard that is shady and can be kept moist, propagating moss can be something fun to do!  Here's how:

1)  Go for a hike in the woods or take a trip to your local plant nursery.  Gather several varieties of mosses.  Some types may be better suited to growing conditions in your yard, so having more than one variety improves your chance of success.

2)  In the kitchen, crumble a handful of the moss into a blender bowl.  Add two cups of yogurt or buttermilk.  Blend, adding enough water to make the mixture spreadable.  Remove from blender and place in a bowl.  If compost is available, stir a bit in to fuel growth.

3)  Outside, find a place where you would like moss to grow.  Large rocks, an area of soil that is cleared of twigs, leaves, and weeds, or any other surface work well.  It's best if this area is in a shady place.  Using a broad paintbrush, spread the blended moss over the surface of the rocks, soil, or other desired areas.

4)  To establish the moss, mist it daily so that the area stays moist.  Keep the area clear of leaves and debris so that the moss isn't smothered.  Wait patiently.  This would be a good time to discuss patience as a character trait, because moss can take a long time to grow.  But, it is fun to observe over the weeks as progress is checked. 

Stories & Imagination

Experiences can come alive when told in a story.  Words tell the story and a child's imagination creates pictures in their mind, making the story vibrant and real.  Advocates of some methods of reading instruction suggest that children learn to read from books that don't have pictures for this very reason.  They believe that giving only the words aids the child in developing an imagination and creativity.  In a day when television, videos, and movies are the norm, and where children start watching them from infancy, it's wise to take a break at times and allow the imagination to work.  This can be accomplished not only by reading books without words, but by listening to stories.  Parents, grandparents, and older siblings enjoy reading to children.  But sometimes a child's eager mind works faster and for a longer period of time than a loved ones voice can last!  Quality stories on CD and online podcasts are a good resource when this happens.  

Here's an example from history that can help you and your child create word pictures in your mind as you listen to the words.  Purposely try this listening experiment and see what pictures and scenes your minds creates.  When the story is over, spend time talking together, comparing what scenes your imaginations have developed.  Share using all your senses:  sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing.  The story we are using for this experience comes from Your Story Hour.  It takes place during the Civil War in America and is about the night riders and George Washington Carver.  You can listen to the story here.  Don't forget to turn on your imagination!

Bringing Nature Indoors

One of my favorite authors writes that “nature study should be an important part of your child’s daily program. This may include working with plants, pots, or window boxes indoors, or a bigger garden outdoors; collecting, identifying, and classifying leaves, rocks, shells, etc.; starting a nature experiment; or taking a walk to see what can be found to study.” [Home Grown Kids, p. 154]

Sometimes weather conditions, living conditions, and circumstances make daily nature study difficult.  Videos, pictures, books, etc. can fill the gap, but when a child or adult finds something live to touch, see, and experience, natures lessons are clearly illustrated at the highest levels of learning and comprehension.  Let’s explore one way that nature can be studied in a controlled environment in the home.

Bringing nature into the house is fun and a fresh way to see how things grow in their own, self-contained ecosystem.  A terrarium can be made out of a variety of glass containers and are a beautiful addition to any living space.  To make a terrarium you will need:

1)  Natural materials from nature:  if possible, take a walk in the woods or along a creek bank to gather small plants and objects (violets, wild ginger, moss, rocks, twigs).  Visit a plant nursery and/or the plant and flower department at the supermarket.  Select and buy several small houseplants (2″ containers or 6-pack containers).

2)  Purchase or gather materials for the foundation.  You will need to layer, in this order, charcoal, gravel, and potting soil.

3)  Find a container that is large and clear with an open top. WalMart has brandy snifters and clear glass vases that will work for a terrarium.  A fish bowl or fish tank also works nicely.  After experienced has been gained in building terrariums, you might want to use a large, commercial-style glass water bottle.  The opening is small, but with a straightened, wire coat hanger, you can place plants and objects in the container to create a beautiful terrarium.

4)  Make sure your glass container is sparkling clean.  It is more difficult to polish the glass after it is filled with soil and plants.

5)  Then, place a layer of charcoal in the base of the container.  If using purchased charcoal, be sure it is a type that does not have chemicals or petroleum added.  If the charcoal is in lumps, place it in a plastic bag and then pound it with a heavy glass or hammer to break into small pieces or powder.  The charcoal acts as a purifier to absorb toxins and mold.

6)  Next, add a layer of gravel, covering the charcoal completely. The gravel creates a bed for drainage.

7)  Now it is time to add a layer of potting soil.  This will be a thicker layer than the charcoal or gravel.  Smooth it throughout the container.  It does not need to be level.  Instead, a mound or a slope can be created for the scene.

8)  Plan the scene, deciding upon the placement of plants.  At this point, a decision to make a pond or stream in the scene should be made.  They can be added by placing a small, low dish on the soil in the terrarium, or by placing a small mirror or aluminum foil for the illusion of water.  Working with odd numbers of plants is recommended for artistic effect and should be used to create the anchor for the scene.  Smaller plants can then be added to complete the design. Using odd numbers is still recommended.  Sometimes it is difficult to reach into the bottom of the container to dig holes for the plants.  A table knife or a long handled iced tea spoon work as helpful tools for planting.  Moss can be added in open spaces between plants to create
ground cover.

9)  Add objects from nature to create a natural scene.  Stones, twigs, and sea shells add contrast to the plants and create interest and ‘spark’.

10)  Add small figurines or toys to add interest.  Ceramic or plastic animals, Lego creations, tiny toy boats, a toy helicopter, or figurines of people make a terrarium interesting to children.  A little twig cabin or house inside also sparks imagination.

11)  A terrarium is a great habitat for little critters found in nature.  Frogs, toads, salamanders, and chameleons will enjoy the moist and lush place to live.  Insects like ladybugs or worms also give life to the habitat.

12)  A terrarium is a closed habitat when a cover is added to the top.   If an aquarium is used, a mesh cover that fits tightly can be purchased.  For a glass vase or brandy snifter, a plate set on top works to keep moisture inside.  Watering will not be necessary very often because the moisture will recycle in the container, forming condensation on the sides.  Observing this is a great opportunity to teach the cycle of water to the ocean, clouds, and rain.  Sometimes a terrarium can become too moist, so keep watch and slide the plate aside to make a small crack for moisture to escape.  If it becomes too moist, the plants will rot and spoil.

A terrarium can be used to teach lessons from nature and to spark the interest and imagination of the children who craft and observe what’s inside.  Seeing how plants grow or how they need trimmed so they don’t overgrow the container involves the child actively on a daily basis. Gathering new objects can be done on daily walks and the child can add or remove things from the scene to improve it or to keep up with the seasons.  Its interactive nature is especially observed when little critters are added.  The terrarium as a self-contained habitat can provide hours of involvement in learning for the child and can give them the opportunity to observe nature up close and naturally in their home environment.  It’s a great way to involve the family in a fun and beautiful nature activity.

Creativity & Learning

“Creative activity could be described as a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual.”

Arthur Koestler

Painting with Puff!

 

When I was a child, my first grade reading book was Dick and Jane and they had a dog named Spot and a cat named Puff.  I always thought Puff was a cute name for a cat!  But this post isn’t about reading or about cats.  It’s about a fun art project that uses ingredients mixed together that creat a paint that puffs up when microwaved.  How fun is that?  Here’s the recipe.  May it keep your children happily entertained for at least an hour or two!


In a small bowl, combine:

2 Tbsp. self-raising flour
6 drops of food coloring
2 Tbsp. salt

Add enough water to make into a creamy paste.  Using a paint brush or sponge, create a design on tagboard or cardboard.  Make another ‘batch’ of puffy paint in other colors if desired.  Paint, paint, paint.  When done, microwave the design on high for  15 – 30 seconds.  The paint will puff and should dry completely.


*To make your own self-raising flour, blend 2 cups of all-purpose flour with 1 Tbsp. baking powder.

Creating Books with Children

Young children love to imitate and create.  Writing or illustrating a book is something that can help them acquire many skills.  Language arts skills are acquired.  Vocabulary is enhanced when a child dictates or writes words.  Spelling is learned as they practice sounds and sequences.  Math skills are developed as they number pages in the book.  And artistic competence and motor skills are fostered as children cut, paste, color, print, and draw.  An entire unit study can be fabricated from an activity as simple as writing and illustrating a book!

When a young age, our children enjoyed books making books.  Here are ideas for several that we made:

1) Use a large scrapbook filled with blank pages to make an alphabet book. Have the child write the first letter of the alphabet on the back flanking sheet on the left-hand side. On the right-hand side of the open page, have the child select a picture from a magazine or catalog showing objects that start with that letter sound.  Glue pictures that start with that letter sound on the right-hand page.  Continue through the alphabet (one letter a day) until each letter of the alphabet has been illustrated.  

2) Use a magnetic photo album (sticky pages with clear plastic overlay) to make a book of verses. Place a picture from a magazine or that the child draws to illustrate a verse on one page. Write the verse on lined paper and attach on the opposite page.  This is a great way to help children memorize Scripture verses.

3) Use a notebook to create a nature notebook. Fill it with dividers, one for each month. Use 12 gallon-sized zip-lock bags that have been punched so they can be fit into the notebook as pages. Place one after each divider. Place clear paper and lined paper in each section. Have the child ‘write’ the book by collecting things from nature and placing them in the zip-lock bags (flowers can be pressed, leaves dried, bugs dried, etc.). Give child opportunity to write poems about what they can see in nature; write stories; find vocabulary words; draw a sketch; paint a picture; etc. Find nature magazine photos that illustrate the seasons or take photos.

Something as simple as a making a book can provide a plethora of learning experiences for the young child!  Take time to enjoy the process and savor learning with the child!

Creating Inventive Thinkers

“The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done – men who are creative, inventive and discoverers” 

Jean Piaget

Resources for Children

Oh, to be six again! Remember those days when paints, crayons, colored pencils, stickers, scissors, and glue provided you with hours of tranquility and fun? Life was good! Providing the ‘tools’ for a creativity is so important for children. Levi enjoyed a visit to our home recently. . .and we enjoyed observing the results of his efforts.  It is always interesting to see how each child develops uniquely when it comes to creativity. 

Is creativity something that can be taught?  Each reader may respond to this differently, but most would generally agree that creativity comes from within and is a quality that is innately possessed at birth.  Each child has potential, and if given the proper tools to develop it, wonderful, quirky, unique, and inventive works of art, song, or verse can result.  Many years ago I read a book about growing creative children.  I don’t remember the title or the author, but the principles were ones that became important in our homeschool.  The writer suggested that the best tools for creativity were simple resources (paper, pen or pencil, keyboard, cardboard, glue, paint, crayons, glitter, feathers, sequins, crayons, etc.).  It was her belief that there were always to be available to the child.   She went on to say that the time and freedom to explore and create with these resources was  key.  This was not a subject taught in school, but rather an opportunity that took place during a child’s free time each day.  When resources are available to the child, the creative activities they participate in become child-directed and meaningful to them.  Exercises that involved coloring within the lines or copying existing art may assist the child in developing fine motor skills, but they do not foster creativity in a child.  In the same way, a child who learns at an early age to think of their own sentence or story to write on a page, rather than assigned copywork that a teacher-parent chooses, learns not only to develop and improve their handwriting, but to become a thinker rather than a reflector of  the assignments or thought of others.  Why be satisfied with bringing a child up to grade level when he or she can reach for the height of imagination and artistic, musical, or written creativity?

This is a good time to review the Smithsonian Institute’s study of the factors that world-class geniuses experienced as they learned and developed their intellects.  I believe that these factors not only develop great thinkers, but creative ones as well.  Do you remember them from a previous post?  The key factors are:

1) warm, loving, educationally responsive parents and other adults;
2) scant association outside the family, and
3) a great deal of creative freedom under parental guidance to explore their ideas.

Dr. Raymond Moore, in his book Better Late Than Early, makes a statement that ties this subject altogether for us.  As the “grandfather of homeschooling”, I believe he was a very wise man.  I love this quote from him:

“Children are happiest when they are busy, and keeping them busy should not be a matter of concern.  Much of a child’s busyness will be accomplished on his own.  Much of it will come from the child’s questions and curiosity.  The parent’s goal should be to respond to the child’s questions in a patient, consistent and constructive way.  Forget about the pressures of achieving.  Cultivate the idea of being happily child centered, for the child is important.  Take advantage of his motivation of the moment.  Be happy that he is curious, and try to go along with his curiosities whenever you can”  [page 21].

Give your child the resources he or she needs.  They need the tools to create — free time, materials, and affirming support.  Try to cultivate a child-centered approach.  And take advantage of a child’s natural curiosity.  Creativity is always sure to result when the formula is implemented.  Allow the child to think outside of the box and stand-by to see the exciting results!

A Crayon Apron

Did you ever have a crayon apron?  They were popular in the 60's as a sweet apron for children.  My mother made one for me and one for my sister.  I remember how special we felt wearing our very utilitarian, yet very pretty aprons.  There was a narrow pocket for each crayon in our coloring set.  A larger pocket would hold a notepad, scissors, a roll of tape, and some paste for gluing.  Sister and I would fill our pockets and then spend hours creating art projects or pretending we were school teachers.  The apron show in these pictures are not of our aprons, but rather of a vintage one I purchased recently.  Mother made ours out of a tiny floral print.  If there was any embellishment, it would have been embroidery or something done in fabric paints.  I was excited to find this vintage children’s crayon apron.  It’s exactly the same design as the one Mother made for me, just in different fabrics.  This was truly an apron that inspired imagination!  They are easy to make, fun to wear, and inspire creativity in children.  No pattern is needed, just invent as you go and have fun.  Your kids will thank you!  Better yet, let them help you!

Giving Children the Freedom to Explore

The third element of the Smithsonian Institute formula for creating a genius is to provide the child with freedom to explore.  Allowing children to grow and develop naturally creates a relaxed and less pressured environment, thereby allowing them to use their creativity and curiosity as they explore the world around them and find things that interest them.  By contrast, the hurried child frequently is pushed to learn on a schedule, get things done within external parameters, and to skim the top of schoolwork rather than to comprehend it in-depth.  This can result in children becoming delayed and burned out.  The home educator can facilitate brain development and intellect by creating an environment that gives the child time and resources to explore the things that interest them most.  A wise parent-teacher observes and regards these things and enhances the learning process by expanding upon them as they facilitate learning in their child.  There are a variety of techniques that can be used to accomplish learning by this free and organic method of instruction.  Time is a vital element in this approach.  Children need time to touch, taste, feel, hear, and smell life as it goes on around them.  Distractions like electronic gadgets and television should be eliminated from their day so that they can learn by exploring their world.  There are moments when the child needs time alone to create and learn about things around him or her, but the presence of a parent who is willing to create and explore things with the child enhances the process.  Our time with them is as important as their time alone.  Creating art, listening to music, acting in charades, building with blocks, walking in nature, or cooking in the kitchen are ways in which children and parents can explore and interact together.  Resources for exploration, like art supplies, books and magazines, objects from nature, manipulative learning resources, musical instruments, and concrete materials like wood, nails, and a hammer should be abundant and available to the child.  As the child develops and grows, the parent can observe trends and interests, creating learning opportunities that amplify the learning process.  Creating great spaces of time for the freedom to explore is vital in the growth and development of an intelligent child.  A less hurried child is a child who learns faster, more thoroughly, and with less pressure.  Learning is enhanced by the simple gift of freedom to explore.