What do you do with your children that's "Out of the Box"?

[Brie Hall]

In my business  I talk to parents about the importance of the quality of their interactions with their children, and how that has more impact than anything on their child's development.

So I was wondering...what are some activities that you do with your children that are "Out of the Box" ? Activities that you do that require creativity and do not come "pre-packaged" (ie. board games, puzzles, ect.)?

A recent favorite of my children is playing "Rock Band". They pick an instrument and create it using household items (recently made a guitar out of a cereal box, paper towel tube, and rubber bands), and then "perform" a rock concert for us....all decked out in dress-up as well!

Please share! You never know what activity could spark an amazing parent-child interaction for someone else! :)

[Sixty Second Parent]

Making doll clothes is the activity at our house at the moment - scraps of material everywhere. My husband is better than me at this and made a very nice pair of pants for my daughter's hearts for hearts doll.

[Andries Smit]

Hi Brie. Thanks for starting this discussion.

We use public speaking activities and games: http://www.publicspeakingforkids.org/blogs/public-speaking/6388956-...

and 

http://www.publicspeakingforkids.org/blogs/public-speaking/7559128-...

[Brie Hall]

Great ideas guys! I LOVE them!

[VidaYum]

Promoting the development of creativity in children combining art and poetry or stories. Heaps of fun and children love it.

You can read about here:

http://vidayum.com/developing-creativity-children/

[John Van Arnam]

We play "Lava Monster"!

This is a game where we set up a big obstacle course around the living room, and the floor is "lava"; you cannot step in the lava or you are "out". We have some beat up old couches and pillows in the living room so we are not worried about messing them up. Dad is the Lava Monster. I have 6 pillows. Each kid takes a trip around the obstacle course being sure not to step in the lava. The course is set up so that, by yourself, you can not get around it without help. Dad (Lava Monster) is the help.He throws a pillow that a kid can step on to continue around the obstacle course without touching the floor. The kid must request the pillow from the Lava Monster; the Lava Monster cannot just throw one. If you can get around the obstacle course without touching the floor you win. 

The game progresses, (as these things will) where the less pillows you need to get around the obstacle course the higher your "score". Then there became a designated pillow that was a "Lava Bomb" and the "Lava Monster" would try and knock you over with the "lava bomb". (This was a huge enhancement to the game for the kids.)

It is really fun, and we play for hours. Yes there is an occasional lamp knocked over and maybe a skinned knee, but the belly laughter and strategy discussions make it more than worthwhile.

Enjoy!