We love the movie Miracle on 34th Street.
It’s our tradition to watch it every Thanksgiving to kick off the Christmas season because it starts
with the Macy’s Day parade and ends on Christmas Day.
If you haven’t had the joy of watching the 1947 version, Kris Kringle is trying to help a little girl with no imagination learn to use it. He tells her that she knows of the other nations in the world so why not visit the Imagi-nation? I love how simple this expla-nation (so many nations;) allows sensible, little Susan to access her own imagi-nation.
We have access to this nation too!
Don’t think that just because you are an adult, you can’t visit it.
Teaching helps me stay a regular visitor.
When I went to bed on my 50th birthday, I had this feeling wash over me.
It was an authentic, legitimate feeling.
Like I’m an official adult now.
That may sound silly but it’s given me even more freedom
to act like the kid I still feel I am sometimes.
So, here’s a handshake to help you get access to this amazing nation:
Touch your pinkie to your thumb. Curl the leftover three fingers slightly and you’ve got a 3-toed sloth hand!
Put down your ring finger and you can be a 2-toed sloth.
Now go find someone else to make the same gesture and link your “toes”!
My Kindergarten and 1st grade students call it…
the Sloth Handshake!
Below are some more ideas to get your kids off that screen and visiting the Imagi-nation.
It’s always fun to go with them but sometimes once they get started, they’ll forget you’re there!
Ages 2-5
Pretend you are the baby. Have your child “parent” you.
My daughter tucked me in for a nap and then took care of her other dolls for a blissful break one afternoon.
Gather all those stuffed animals and your child can pretend to be the zookeeper.
Put out all the toys (they’re probably already everywhere) and your child can pretend to be a storekeeper or a shopper.
Ages 6 - 10
Gather the stuffed friends and create a school.
Build a fort and pretend to weather a natural disaster.
Tie a blanket like a cape and have your child save the house or stuffed friends from the enemy.
Ages 11 - 14
Gather any stuffed animals still living with you and write a story about them.
Pretend a favorite celebrity is coming for a visit and the house must be ready.
(This is really just a creative incentive to get them to clean the house - but if it works - GREAT!)
Ages 15 and up
Create a music video to a favorite song (My girls understand iMovie better than I do).
Put on headphones and karaoke favorite songs. Video it.
Play back is hilarious because we’re all tone deaf with headphones on.
Play Randomize. It’s a hilarious game of acting, drawing or describing.
Notice how versatile those stuffed animals can be?
Once your child(ren) gets comfortable in this nation, he/she will spend more and more time here.
Come back and visit your Imagi-nation any time.
Please share your favorite idea in the comments!