f r a m e d y o u ' v e b e e n · starcatchers' #weeinspirations have some fun, save...

Starcatchers' #WeeInspirations

YOU'VE BEENFRAMED

Have some fun, save your sanity

OVER TO YOU, WEE ONE

www.starcatchers.org.uk

@StarcatchersCS@StarcatchersUK

VARIATIONSOlder wee ones can have a scavenger hunt tocollect their natural materialsIf you don't have a garden, collect materialson your walk and build your art at homeAdd paint and use leaves etc to print on paper

CHEEKY BONUSESdecision making builds agencyfine motor developmentexploring the outdoors

THE BASIC IDEA

Create a piece of art by laying out naturalmaterials (leaves, sticks, stones etc) in a frame onthe ground. The frame can be made of sticks,tape, anything that that helps focus the eye.

Take a picture of whatever you make together!It doesn't have to look like anything, just valuethe experience. Oh, and if your wee one keepswrecking the art, treat it like building towers -build to knock down, again and again.

AND REMEMBER...

Long before they talk, wee ones communicate with usby handing us objects. Have a pile of materials for you,and a pile of materials for you wee one to play with.Chat as you work away and make a big deal ofthanking them for whatever they hand you.


(MUTE)BUTTON NOSE





VARIATIONSGreat interactive game when sharing booksOlder wee ones can show off their mutebuttons on video calls to loved onesCan everyone mute themselves when theyneed to listen? Its worth a try!

CHEEKY BONUSESgreat for bonding, touch and cuddlesexaggerated faces help with speechbuilding agency, babies making decisions

THE BASIC IDEAAs you chat to your baby, press your nose andpretend you've been muted. To your surprise, youkeep mouthing words, but no noise comes out!Press again, and you can make noise again.

With wee babies, it can take a lot of repetitionfor them to get the hang of something - butthey will LOVE the exaggerated, silly facesyou'll be using.

AND REMEMBER...

For tiny babies, get close and gently move their handonto your nose to 'mute' you. Act surprised every time!Older babies may be able to reach for your nosethemselves - or use your ear as the button instead ifyou're worried about being whacked in the face.

BA-BY DAVEDOO-DOO-DOODOO-DOO-DOO



Ask "What other songs can we change?"Older children can play with rhyme Sing about what you see on your daily walk!If it's just you and your baby, use whateverwords that make YOU laugh, baby will love itanyway

Wee ones learn through repetition ANDnovelty (this does both!)Vocabulary/pre-literacy skillsHelps children feel listened to Laughing together feels awesome

Some children might make the samesuggestion over and over again: there's nopressure to think up new ideas every time.Clap, praise them and ask them to take a bowwhen you feel like wrapping up.

Change the words of favourite songs (like BabyShark) or nursery rhymes to try and make eachother laugh. Babies and young children react tofunny faces and voices as much as the lyrics.

Starcatchers' #WeeInspirationsHave some fun, save your sanity


VARIATIONS

CHEEKY BONUSES

THE BASIC IDEA

AND REMEMBER...

Pause halfway through a line and see if your childmakes their own suggestion - even the baby shouting"GAAAAH!" can be funny! They'll soon get the idea.


SILLYWALKS





VARIATIONSBabies in slings and prams will enjoyvariations as you move your body differentlyGuessing game version for bigger kids - whichbody part is leading now? Watch Monty Python together for inspiration

CHEEKY BONUSESfun way to go for a walkexploring body movements supports braindevelopment

THE BASIC IDEAStart by pretending one part of your body - afoot, a hand, a shoulder - has a life of its ownand is "dragging" you along. 'Heeeeeeeeeelp! Myfoot is out of control!'

You know your wee ones best - some willengage better with big, pantomime movement,others will enjoy starting small and seeing yourfoot do small, silly movements at randommoments. It's just about having fun together.

AND REMEMBER...

While still 'struggling' to control your own body, askyour small people 'which part of your body is beingsilly?' and see what they come up with. They might gowild, they might use much smaller movements - tryand copy whatever they do.


EYEBOMBING





VARIATIONS

Some children might want to draw and cut outtheir own eyesDo the faces look sad, happy, surprised? Takethe chance to talk about different feelingsUse any other craft bits you have for hair etc.

CHEEKY BONUSES

fine motor developmentimaginative play, exploring emotionsbrings new fun to familiar spaces

THE BASIC IDEA

Draw pairs of eyes on paper or card, cut them outand use blu-tak to stick them on objects, lightswitches, wherever you can make a "face".

Sometimes children engage best when itssomething they 'discover' themselves. Stickingeyes everywhere when they're in bed andletting them notice the next day will make itfeel magical.

AND REMEMBER...

Have some sets of eyes already cut out with blu-tak onthem so little hands can grab them and start makingfaces straight away. Objects can be used as puppets,and eyes can be hidden all over the house for others tofind... Or even take it outside!


BATH PAINTS





VARIATIONSIf you don't have a bath, experiment withother surfaces: the bottom of a shower, a sink,even a washing up basin tub provides a newcanvas!You can prop up babies by sitting with them inyour lap and help them join in too.

CHEEKY BONUSESthe curved shape of the bath sharpens finemotor skills and spacial awarenesscan do big marks and movements withoutneeding as much paper/supplies

THE BASIC IDEAFor this one you need some paints or mark-making tools that can be washed off with water.Do a wee test before you hand over to thechildren!

AND REMEMBER...

Have some paints ready and tell the childrenyou're going to go and paint somewhere a littlebit different! You might have to sit in the bathbefore they feel confident doing so.

Some children might not like the idea of theirdrawings or marks being washed away. You caninvolve them in the 'cleaning up bit' by creating astory about where their drawings go. Maybethere's somewhere magical down the plughole?


BOOK VOICES





VARIATIONSFor pre or non-verbal children you can pointto the pictures as you do the voices: this isstill helping them build connections

CHEEKY BONUSES

cuddling whilst reading promotes bondingand helps wee ones feel at ease with booksagency and decision-makingearly literacy: associating stories withletters/words

THE BASIC IDEA

Adding voices and an opportunity for children tojoin in can help books 'come alive' for wee ones,even those who aren't usually interested inreading.

AND REMEMBER...

When reading say 'I'm going to do the voice ofthis character' and do your best impression.Once you've done this a few times you can askthe children what voice they think eachcharacter would have.

It doesn't matter if your voices aren't perfect, ifchildren say you're 'doing it wrong' this can be agreat chance for you to encourage them to showyou how it's done and join in!


TEXTILE TOUCH





VARIATIONSTie it into bath-time by playing with your babyin the bath with the water, bath toys orspongesFreeze a toy in water and let wee ones playwith it as it melts - this takes longer, but canbe fun for toddlers to come back to and keep'excavating'

CHEEKY BONUSESspatial awareness and fine motor skillsbrain developmentproblem-solvinglanguage development

THE BASIC IDEABabies are constantly learning about the worldaround them through their senses. This is asimple way to engage babies with touch andtextures.

AND REMEMBER...

Gather objects that have different textures:metal, fabric, plastic, wood. There's no wronganswer, just make sure your objects are cleanand are okay for babies to put into theirmouths! Place them around your baby, or letthem 'discover' them by hiding them in boxesand bags.

Sensory play like this may feel a little bit odd atfirst, but it's helping your baby build their senseof the world!


LIVING ROOMGALLERY





VARIATIONSFor older children you could tie this in tovisiting a virtual art gallery (search Google foroptions!)Take it further by offering to give the childrena tour - they might take over and explain theirartwork to you!

CHEEKY BONUSESagency and decision-makinggives children an ownership over theirdrawing and security in their spacecreativity - seeing a familiar space differently

THE BASIC IDEAAfter mark-making or drawing say 'well, I'd liketo take a trip to the art gallery!' and ask thechildren if they think they could display theirartwork.

AND REMEMBER...

You can show them what art galleries look likeand how the artwork is placed. Then walk themaround the living room and asking where they'dlike to display each piece. They may want itsuper up high, or down on their level. Be readyfor some wild suggestions!

It doesn't matter if the mark-making they've doneis scribbles - letting them display it gives thempride in their creation and the space they live in!


STORYBOOKDENS





VARIATIONS

CHEEKY BONUSESbonding and literacy problem-solving and concentrationcreativity and imagination: coming up withnew ideas for what a space can be

THE BASIC IDEADen-making is a fantastic form of imaginativeplay: after all, a den can be anything! Adding adimension of storytelling or drama can make aden more exciting and build even more skills.

AND REMEMBER...Don't worry if your den doesn't look Pinterestready: the important part is the process ofbuilding and what you do inside. The bestresource children have is the adults around them!

Make a story about why you're in your den.Maybe you're hiding from trolls, or have stolensomething from a fearsome dragon! If that feels too intimidating, dens can also be agreat space for reading books! Cuddle up andtake it in turns to try and do the voices of thecharacters on the pages.

Take it outside: if you have a garden, buildinga den outside can be a fantastic way to getsome fresh air!A den can also be used as a calm space forchildren who would like some time alone


NO BRUSHPAINTING





VARIATIONS

CHEEKY BONUSES

numeracy: shapes, distance, lengthscreativity and imagination: coming up withnew ideas for what to do with an objectconcentration and focususes objects you already have at home

THE BASIC IDEAToday we're painting with everything exceptbrushes: potato mashers, combs, toothbrushes,sponges, bubble wrap. If your stuck for ideas,have a rummage through your recycling bin.

AND REMEMBER...

Many children will end up with a lot of mixedtogether paint covering the page. Wee ones arefascinated by contrast. They're still learningabout shapes and colours as well as seeing thattheir decisions have impact!

You can use the objects to make prints by lyingthem in the paint then pressing them into paper,or you can draw or make-mark by holding yourobject as if it was a pen/brush. Try changing howyou hold them to make different shapes!

Older children can try developing a pattern byrepeating shapes or movementsTake it outside: try printing leafs or paintingwith sticks and mud!



CREATIVE IDEASFOR UNDER 5s

Here we list some of the benefits of the idea,whether it's building numeracy, self-expression, or letting you finish your cup of teafor a change.

Embrace silliness. Embrace imperfection. Theseare fun, creative ideas to engage your wee oneswithout a lot of kit, stress or the need to 'achieve'anything.

This is where the children take over. Givingthem the chance to shape how ideas developand grow helps them feel safe and valued.

Lots of our ideas can be adapted for children ofdifferent ages and abilities, and to whateverspace you have.

It's okay if things don't go to plan. If you andyour wee ones aren't having fun, ditch it, have acuddle and try something else another day.

Starcatchers' #WeeInspirationsHave some fun, save your sanity


VARIATIONS

CHEEKY BONUSES

THE BASIC IDEA

AND REMEMBER...


STORY MAPSHave some fun, save your sanity


Follow their instructions and/or let them takeover the drawing as you chat Top tip: It's not about being accurate, it's aboutsharing the experience



VARIATIONS

Draw a map as you share a story "what didthey pass next on the bear hunt?"Make a treasure map together and let yourwee one lead you round the house on anadventure

CHEEKY BONUSESliteracy skillsvocabularyspatial awarenessgives you some fresh air and exercise

THE BASIC IDEA

Go for a walk and draw a rough map of whereyou went. Chat it through as you draw "Wepassed the school, then where did we go?"

Start the map like it's the most fascinatingthing to YOU and wee ones are more likely towant to join in. It doesn't matter if it's ascribbly mess, it's all communication.

AND REMEMBER...


MONKEY TENHave some fun, save your sanity


When you get to zero, your wee one chooses anew animal to act out "Zebra 10! 9, 8..." andeveryone takes turns to lead. Top tip: choose sloth or snail for a breather.



VARIATIONSOlder children can count in 2s, 5s, 10sPre-and non-verbal children can use theirbodies to act their chosen animal while youcopy their moves and count.

CHEEKY BONUSESnumeracy turn-takingcreative movementgreat for getting kids up stairs quickly:"Stair Monkeys! 10, 9, 8..."

THE BASIC IDEA

Yell "Monkey 10! 9, 8..." and countdown to zerowhile you move like monkeys. Bonus points formonkey voices, whatever they are.

If pretending to be a monkey fills you withdread, find your comfort zone and start there.But children love it when you're silly withthem.

AND REMEMBER...


BIG STICKPAINTING





VARIATIONSOlder children can try to practice writingPlay music and dance while you paintBreak out rolls of old wallpaper and realpaint/pens if you have them and feel brave

CHEEKY BONUSESchildren don't need to 'sit nicely' toengage in mark making / visual artfoundations of literacy skillsgross motor skills (big movements)concentration and focus (maybe youcan finish your cup of tea for once!)

THE BASIC IDEA

You need a paintbrush and a big stick - bamboogarden cane is ideal, but anything long, like amop or brush handle. Tape or use elastic bandsto attach the brush to the stick.

It's about fun rather than accurate drawings,but you can still value what they create - takephotos before their marks dry and share themwith pride.

AND REMEMBER...

Good news, we're painting with water sothey can go wild with very little mess! Dryslabs/pavement is ideal, but your kitchenfloor or other hard floor might work too aslong as you can see 'marks'.


BANGIN' CHAT


OVER TO YOU, WEE ONEYour small people will probably just enjoymaking a lot of noise at first. Don't stress ifthey don't join you tapping the words, justbeing an example for them is enough.Top tip: take your beats outside if you can



VARIATIONSFast, slow, tongue twisters - have a ball!Copy their beats, no matter how randomMake a game of trying to hit your 'drum' atexactly the same time they do

CHEEKY BONUSESphonological awarenessagencybondingthe stress relief and joy of getting tobash something

THE BASIC IDEA

A pot and a spoon, a tub and a stick, whateveryou've got, tap out names or your favouritewords: "cho-co-late", "sun-flow-er".

Babies and young children don't need words tostart communicating, so embrace the chaosand watch their reactions - over time, playingwith beats will feel more like a conversation.

AND REMEMBER...


LOVELETTERS





VARIATIONS

Older children can practice writing: abouttheir day, a story, or even just sign their name!Take the children with you when you post theletter to show them where it goes and send iton its way

CHEEKY BONUSES

fine motor skillschatting about feelings improves wellbeinglinks mark making and self-expression

THE BASIC IDEA

If your small person is missing someone: Granny,Grandpa, friends or their nursery, grab a bit ofpaper and declare "I'M going to write to them alove letter to say how much we miss them!"

Even if they don't pick up a pen, it doesn'tmatter, you're helping your wee one make theconnection between mark making andexpressing important thoughts. Plus you'llbrighten someone's day with a nice letter!

AND REMEMBER...

Lots of young children don't like being told to write ordraw, but they're more likely to get involved if theythink the paper is YOURS. Chat about the person theymiss as you draw, keep the pressure off and see if theypick up a pen. Let it be their idea to join in.


LITTLESQUIRTS





VARIATIONSIf you have food colouring, vinegar and bicarb, try'Rainbow Fizz Droppers' by #ExpectingSomethingTake it for a walk and leave a dribbly path tofollow home

CHEEKY BONUSESfine motor skills creativity - finding lots of uses forthe same objectdoesn't require a lot of set up oradult input

THE BASIC IDEAGive your wee one a tub of water and a squirtybath toy (or clean medicine syringe) and see howmany different things it can be used for - miniwater fight, drawing on slabs, watering plants.The possibilities are endless!

AND REMEMBER...

Squirty toys take on a whole new fun whenyou're not in the bath - but you probably wantto be outdoors! That way wee ones get toexplore ALL the possibilities without soakinganything vital.

Creativity is a process - if your wee one enjoysthis idea, explore it again and again and watch astheir play evolves. It's great to join in, but its alsogreat to give them space to explore bythemselves too.


TICKLEPICTURES





VARIATIONSBabies may not start 'drawing' but don't worry,touch and chat are just as importantOlder children can guess number, letters,shapes or even answer questionsCan you 'draw' songs like Incy Wincy Spider?

CHEEKY BONUSESgreat for bonding, touch and cuddlespointing, communication and expressionbuilding blocks for literacy

THE BASIC IDEAFor babies, trace words like "I love you" on theirtummy as you chat with them. For wee ones ableto sit up/stand and scribble, say shapes, lettersand numbers as you trace them on their back.

Don't worry about getting it right all the time,half the fun is making mistakes and having agiggle! If your show your wee one it's okay toget it wrong and try again they will take thesame positive attitude.

AND REMEMBER...

Make an offer: "Can you draw on MY back and I'll guesswhat you're drawing?" As they 'draw' on your back,draw what they do on paper (or whatever else youhave). Copy them as closely as you can - slow, fast,swirly, dots. Then swap over if they're up for it.

f r a m e d y o u ' v e b e e n · starcatchers' #weeinspirations have some fun, save...

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