B a r b a r a s h e r I l L u s t r a t I o n s b y r a L p h

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Attention Games
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if he has some ideas of his own. Then put your ideas into practice. Here are
some examples:
⽧ For the child who likes to pretend to play the guitar
Instead of just letting him play “air guitar,” ask if he would like to learn
how to play for real. You may find that a music studio is best for
lessons, or you can find a local person who would be interested in
giving your child private lessons.
⽧ For the child who likes to draw cartoons
Ask your child if she would like a workbook on how to draw cartoon
figures that breaks the process down into easy-to-understand pro-
cedures. Go online or to a local bookstore together to find one.
Is it possible to visit a studio in your area that creates cartoons?
⽧ For the child who loves to play with the family pets
Ask your child if he’d like to visit the local veterinarian. If the child is
older, you might even ask the vet if your child could work as an
intern for a while. Interns may not get paid and may have the
clean-up-the-poop jobs, but for an animal lover, it might be
heaven.
⽧ For the child who used to love making mud patties and now enjoys
making figures in the sand when she’s at the beach
See if there is a local shop or home where people can make clay pro-
jects that are fired in their kiln. Go together and try it out. You can
also buy oil-based sculpting clay that doesn’t need firing or the
kind that can be “fired” in a regular oven.
⽧ For the child who enjoys helping you cook
Find a recipe book that is just right for his age. After he selects the first
recipe and makes a list of ingredients, go buy them together.
V
A R I A T I O N S
Unending. Keep in mind that as your child grows, her interests
might change. Her interest in cartooning, for example, may expand into a