Imagination & Storytelling
Imaginary friends, made-up names, bedtime stories and the questions that get a quiet child talking about what they made.
Imaginary friends: why they happen and when parents should (not) worry
Your child has a friend you cannot see, and you have been asked to set a place at the table. Here is what is usually going on, how to play along, and when to check in with someone.
9 min read
Storytelling for kids: how to help your child tell stories without taking over
The hard part of helping a child tell a story is closing your own mouth. Here are the questions, the story spine and the small rituals that give the story back to them.
8 min read
Kids naming characters: why you should always ask what their drawing is called
Your child's creature is called Splonk, or Mr Toast, or Nothing. Why asking for the name is one of the nicest questions you can put to a young artist, and what to do with the answer.
8 min read
Are talking toys good for kids? What we know, what we don't, and how to choose
Shelves of toys promise to teach your toddler to talk. We look at what can and cannot be said, why your own voice still wins, and a short checklist for choosing one.
8 min read
Bedtime stories for kids built from their own drawing
When the library of picture books has been read to death, your child's own drawing is the best story you have. A calm, five-minute method with templates and a short example.
8 min read
20 questions to ask about your child's drawing instead of "what is it?"
"What is it?" ends more conversations than it starts. Here are twenty better questions, sorted by purpose, with notes on how to listen once your child starts talking.
9 min read
Shy kids and creative play: easing a quiet child into talking about their work
A quiet child is not a problem to solve. Here are gentle, low-pressure ways to share creative time, from parallel drawing to puppet voices, without ever calling them shy.
9 min read
Pretend play ideas that grow out of a drawing (shops, vets, restaurants and more)
A drawn menu, a paper till and a toy bear with a bandage: pretend play grows fast when the props are made by the children. Here are six games that start with a pencil.
9 min read
Drawing to learn new words: simple vocabulary games for early readers
Pencil, paper and a handful of words. Eight low-prep vocabulary games for early readers, plus how to make them work for families who speak more than one language.
9 min read