Hobbies And Interests
Getting Rid of Salon Formality
Penelope Leach says the formality of a trip to the hairdresser is frightening; entering a strange, funny-smelling environment and being welted down and wrapped in plastic capes is enough to scare any child, maybe even some adults. Playing salon at home with a child is a way to ease her into real trips to the salon while testing her creativity and imagination. Have the child style an adult's hair by requesting silly hairstyles, such as a mohawk or putting 10 hairbands in the hair to create a one-of-a-kind ̵6;do. Reverse roles to let the child drape herself in a garbage bag to simulate salon capes. Make up wacky names for the hairstyles the two come up with together.
Sketching a Style
Self acceptance and strong self-esteem are built at a young age, according to a BBC parenting article on confidence building. The author explains toddlers slowly build a sense of self by learning what they look like and what they̵7;re capable of doing. Creating several outlines of wigs on pieces of paper for the child is a step in encouraging them to be silly and laugh out loud at themselves. Take the wig outline, and invite the toddler to scribble all over it with silly colors of crayons and markers, even finger paint. Placing the toddler in front of a mirror and helping hold the wigs up to his head is sure to get giggles from both the adult and child. Chatting about the hairstyles and praising the child̵7;s creativity are two ways to promote self-esteem.
Brushing Doll's Hair
Use dolls as tools to bring good habits to life for children. Playing games with dolls and stuffed animals reinforces a healthy lifestyle for young children. Just as an adult may use a doll to teach a toddler how to go to the bathroom, adults can also use dolls during playtime to teach healthy hair care habits. Encourage the child to mimic the doll̵7;s actions by narrating each step, ̶0;The doll loves taking her hair out of a pony tail and brushing it.̶1; Asking a little girl to demonstrate how well she can brush her own hair is a playful way to teach her the proper technique. Development and behavioral pediatrician Dr. Lisa Nalven told "Parents" magazine imitation is vital to the development of abilities, including both social and language skills.
Making Old Dolls New Again
There̵7;s no need to throw out old dolls or stuffed animals when you can make a game out of making them new again. Trimming a doll̵7;s hair, cutting a new style for the mane of a stuffed horse, or using a child̵7;s old baseball cap to give a stuffed bear a new style is one way to educate children about recycling and repurposing old items. Find household items, such as paper clips, yarn or ribbons to add flair to a drab ̵6;do will boost a child̵7;s creative skills and help them to see old toys through new eyes.