Creativity and Imaginative Play

Over a year ago Jamie helped the kids make an awesome cardboard castle!  **Read about that, here.**

This castle has been used nearly everyday since.  It has been mended, repainted, added onto and everything inbetween.  It has sparked creativity and imagination like I never dreamed it would.

Both Hanna and Joe have become kings and queens, princes and princesses, Lords and Ladies, wanted to read about and explore the times of Knights and Serfs all because of this cardboard castle.  It gets played with alone and with the two of them together.  I can’t say enough about what a wonderful treasure this castle has turned out to be.

Besides using their own money to buy furniture, table settings and add to their collection of knights, dragons and medieval figures, Hanna has taken lots of time to make accessories for their kingdom over the last few months.  Even grandparents have gotten in on the crafting to help make sheets, pillows, beds and tables. 

The two of them have added other ‘buildings’ to the kingdom by painting more cardboard boxes, and building rooms with various types of Legos and Trio blocks.

Here is a bed and bedding.

Here is a table with place settings in the ‘dining hall’.

A living room with a sewed rug, a piano, bed and various decorations.

A chariot.

Another room, more furniture and bed area—I can’t remember what they told me this room was called :-).

A building they’ve made from blocks and a Trio set Joe got for Christmas, with homemade beds too.

As you can see, the castle looks well loved, and could use a middle support right about now.  But, it’s holding up just fine. I cannot believe this castle has provided so many hours of play, creativity, imagination and bonding!  I had considered at one time getting them a ‘real castle’ with all the figures, accessories and so forth.  I am so glad I didn’t.  This is far better on many different levels!

I am linking this post to:

• We Play @ Childhood 101
• The Play Academy
• It’s Playtime