Packed with joyful and educational art experiences for kids, Play, Make, Create offers fun and engaging imaginative activities focused on the fun and reward of creating, not just producing a final project. Founded in a
process-based philosophy, this unique book includes
more than 40 activities set up as invitations, or thoughtfully designed
prompts to explore, create, and play. Author Meri Cherry has more than 20 years of teaching experience, and her blog (mericherry.com) has set the standard for
meaningful and enriching process art experiences that are both manageable for parents, and appealing and fun for kids.
Play, Make, Create begins with a
guide for parents, teachers, and facilitators that discusses how to set up materials in an inviting way, how to present an activity and talk to kids about art, and how to stock the right materials for ongoing creativity. Also included are
best-practice tips for clean-up, answers to frequently asked questions, and more.
The book offers four types of creative invitations: Invitations to
Explore (easy ideas for fun and play), Invitations to
Create (open-ended, craft-based activities), Invitations to
Play (sensory-based activities), and
Big Projects (ongoing process-art activities). Most feature
basic materials and tools (paper, inexpensive paints, pencils, glue) that require little setup.
Among the projects and activities you’ll find:
- A collage project that takes a no-rules approach to creating with cut-out drawings and pictures.
- Ideas for building a science station that allow kids to experiment with kitchen cabinet supplies such as soap, measuring spoons, cotton balls, and baking soda.
- A prompt to draw a self-portrait, using a mirror (parents can draw themselves, too).
- Instructions for making homemade colored playdough.
The activities in
Play, Make, Create promote
active, meaningful, and socially interactive learning. Children are encouraged to
wonder, experiment, and use critical thinking—and most of all,
enjoy the process. By following their own inclinations and making their own choices,
children gain self-confidence and hone their problem-solving skills.
Get
Play, Make, Create and give children the
gift of creativity!