Creative Storytelling for the whole family.
Dig deep between the cushions of your couch and I bet you’ll find a handful of pennies. You may even find a jar full. Let’s put those pennies to good use. Instead of throwing them in the piggy banks let’s use them to play a little game I call, “Penny For Your Stories”.
Place a handful of pennies in a bowl or jar. Gather the family. Each penny, like all change, has the year it was issued on the head side of the coin. I’m looking at some pennies right now that were issued in 1994, 2001 and 2007.
Have each person randomly pick a penny or two out of the jar. Ro Sham Bo for who goes first. Each person tells one short story from that year. Sometimes it helps to pick a theme – summer camp, most embarrassing moment, best fashion, biggest milestone.
For your kids, make sure you have more recent pennies.
To ignite creative storytelling, add pennies from your children’s early childhood. Ask them to think back to when they were 4 years in 2004 and have them tell a story about what they were like then. It will help them build creative storytelling and pull together bits and pieces of knowledge to craft a complete picture.
You might need to help them along a bit reminding them of some of the things you did that year but kids are naturally creative and the things they remember will surprise you.
This game is a lot of fun for tweens and teens.
Dream big. Dream often. Get a pedicure!
Note for parents: this works really well as an icebreaker at work.
Dream big. Dream often. Say hello to strangers!
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Tags: building creativity, children imagination, childrens games, family activities, family creativity, family fun, imaginibbles, kids activities, kids crafts, parenting, parenting ideas, playing with kids, right brain exercises, tamara kleinberg, unleash creative thinking
