The best toys are those that foster imagination. One that you can create together is a suitcase filled with all kinds of props for acting. Begin by picking a theme to build your props around. Travel is a great theme that can be expounded upon in a plethora of ways. Talk with your child about different modes of travel. Ask which ones they can think of. Planes, Trucks, Boats. Suggest some out of the ordinary ways to travel, such as a submarine, and then begin to gather your props.
Use pictures from magazines, construction paper, and items around the house to begin your collection. Some ideas might include a steering wheel, a train whistle, or conductor hat. Once your suitcase has a satisfactory variety, encourage your child to use the props while you guess which method of travel is being acted.
Once you’ve thoroughly explored your prop suitcase, chose a destination. Look at the globe together and take a boat (or train, or magic carpet ride) to that place. Talk about the food you’d find there. Do the people of that destination have any special customs? What language do they speak? Can you learn some phrases in that language?
By exploring travel and other cultures through props and acting, you not only nurture imagination, you also build literacy and expand your child’s understanding of the world around them.
