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

T
Y P E S O F
A
T T E N T I O N
E
N C O U R A G E D
Open and focused
M
A T E R I A L S
Any kind of found art material: buttons, yarn, sea shells, and so on
Variety of household items to decorate: gift box, hat, cardboard, and
the like
Glue
D
I R E C T I O N S
As these types of materials appear in your life, place them in a shoe box.
When the mood and moment seem right, bring the box out for your young
one to “ooh and ah” over as you examine each item. Then let his imagination
120
Attention Games
09_736546 ch04.qxp 5/26/06 11:59 AM Page 120

---

loose in thinking about how he can use these items to decorate something
around the house.
For example, a bottle of glue and a piece of cardboard can turn these trea-
sures into a collage. A wooden cigar box or gift box covered with these objets
d’art becomes a unique treasure box. Feathers and yarn and fabric swatches
can make an old hat into a new designer creation. Pipe cleaners and but-
tons can be transformed into a one-of-a-kind bracelet.
The possible art projects are endless, and it all begins with your propen-
sity for collecting beautiful “junk.”
V
A R I A T I O N S
⽧ Have your child add to the box by keeping an eye out for beautiful junk.
⽧ Have an older child use some of the materials to make a kaleidoscope
box for his baby sister or brother. (See the Kaleidoscope activity in the
Infants section of this book for details.)
W
H A T
’
S
B
E I N G
L
E A R N E D
Creativity comes from seeing old stuff in new ways. Assembling miscella-
neous objects in a unique way is an effective means of combining both
open and focused attention: open attention as children scan their environ-
ment and focused attention when they put all the goodies together.
Name the Sounds
Here is a game to play when walking to keep everyone alert to all the sounds
around her. This game is so versatile that it can be played with just one other
person, with a group of people, or happily all alone. If your child goes on a
walk or is playing alone outside, you might ask her to listen to the sounds and
tell you about them when she comes in; or, when you are going to be gone for
a solitary jog, promise her you’ll return and tell her what sounds you heard.