Seeing Possibilities

Hi! It's Scott from Brick by Brick. I love to repurpose materials—use materials in ways different from their intended use.

Recently we had fun using cups and pet food containers for art. We used them for stamping.

Press a cup into the ink and stamp circles. We were thinking and talking about families, so I encouraged kids to use the circles as faces. 

Some did. Some didn't. 

But exploring and using the cups and small bowls with the ink pads was a fun and creative experience.

So often we get locked into ways to use things. I do this even with my repurposed materials. We use things this way.

But letting a little creativity and a little "out of the box" thinking can encourage lots of new possibilities.

I hope as you work with preschoolers, kindergartners, or any young children, you open up to possibilities. Place a few items on a table and encourage the kids to think of what to do with them. Place a few unusual items in the block center. Paint with something other than a brush.

We are living in a quickly changing world. Thinking in new and different ways is (and will be) a valuable skill. 

Encourage new and different thinking. Even if that's just putting paper cups and ink pads on a table and seeing what happens.

(My favorite ink pads - ones that will totally wash off hands, arms, etc. with soap - are from Discount School Supply. I get nothing from that company. Just wanted you to know about these great ink pads.)