Turn vacuuming into an adventure. Tell your children to pretend they're a giant king from the land of Dustabaloo who loves to eat dust! Ask them to move with the vacuum as a hungry king would and to narrate his story while they clean.
As your kids pick up their rooms, ask them to imagine how objects must feel now that they are getting put back where they belong. Are they relieved to be back on the shelf with their old familiar friends?
Keep your child occupied while you are cooking. Tell him to take out the enormous invisible story book that's in the refrigerator. Clear a space for it on the counter and ask him to read you the story, page by page.
Turn Off the Television and Turn On Your Imagination
Have your kids become a button on the television remote control pad-maybe they're a VIDEO/VCR button, maybe they're the VOLUME CONTROL. Ask them to describe their story and why they do or do not like their job.
Create your own talk show. Instead of people, have the guests be objects in nature. Ask your kids to play the host and interview a tree, a flower, or even poison ivy! Have them go into the audience and ask if there are any questions for the guest.
Produce your own World Series. Rather than watching a ball game on TV, start an imaginary game instead. No bats or balls are necessary! Once your kids have been assigned their teams and positions, they will have no trouble enjoying the game.
Travel Magic
Pretend the inside of the car is a movie studio. Now have the kids create their own feature film. Instead of people have the stars be the objects in the car. Ask one child to play the snobby steering wheel and another to play the dainty windshield wiper, or even the tuna sandwich on the front seat. Become the director and yell "Action!" as each character performs a monologue about his life.
Have your kids become famous detectives. Ask them to decipher the code being sent to them by the plane's wing. What adventure story is the wing trying to share with the passengers?
Have your kids put on their "car hats" and describe them to you. Perhaps your son has a shiny steering wheel hat or your daughter is wearing a road map hat. You can tell your kids that driving hats only appear after seat belts are fastened, or that they appear only when the kids are speaking quietly.
