or colorful plastic bottle caps -our environment is full of things
that can be turned into the stuff of learning and creativity.
Many of us remember playing with wooden spools from a
mother’s or grandmother’s sewing box or a mystery tin full of
costume jewelry fit for royalty. Think of building a fort or a cas-
tle out of sofa cushions and blankets or discovering the trunk
in the attic full of old scarves and hats, funny undergarments,
feathers and sparkly shoes. Even if we never experienced a
magic trunk, let alone an attic, we nostalgically remember how
making, imagining and creating made us feel. But it was not re-
ally about the stuff, it was about the rich world of imagination!
Today’s parents have a magic trunk too - it is called a waste
basket. Re-think what you toss out for potential creativity
instead; used colorful laundry cups and bottle lids, small boxes
and tins can be used for sorting and building; start a collage
envelope and save bright paper, nice pictures, paper of unique
textures, or leftover pieces of nice wrapping paper for collage
or papier mache. Styrofoam packaging often looks like the
floor plan for a dollhouse or space
ship to me. Or just start a box and
put anything that looks interesting
in it (keeping in mind what is age
appropriate and safe for your child).
The world of plastics and disposable
knick-knacks offers us a cornuco-
pia of little treasures to play with.
Random bits of wood, or even heavy
cardboard, lend themselves to many
possibilities. Bring out the box and
see what your child can do with the
pieces.
Just figuring out WHAT to do
with all the “stuff” is the component
of creativity that gives birth to criti-
cal thinking and problem-solving
skills, and the success in realizing a
vision empowers the creator with
self-esteem building confidence.
If your child gets frustrated, agree to put the project away for
another day. Our children are under so much pressure to per-
form these days, many have forgotten how to play creatively,
and you will have to patiently reassure your child that there are
no expectations and they can start or stop as they desire. You
can also help your child if you play along too, just remember to
authentically focus on your own creation and resist telling your
children how to make their creative projects “better” or differ-
ent in any way. Remember - safe space, no rules, freedom to
create, or not.
Creating may be the most soulful experience humans
have; it is the thing that mimics the spiritual reality of all faiths -
that we were created by some Creative Force. There is a beauty
of continuity in the idea of a Creator creating creatures that
create; creativity may be the most powerful healing tool of all.
Let’s let our children abundantly partake.
Casey Eckels is Executive Director of Trash to Treasure Cre-
ative Reuse Center. Find out more about the mission and work of
Trash to Treasure at
www.trash2treasurefl.org.
30 Broward County
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