{"id":46,"date":"2020-04-08T08:28:14","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T08:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/ea\/tapteamwebsitemain2019\/?p=46"},"modified":"2020-04-08T08:28:14","modified_gmt":"2020-04-08T08:28:14","slug":"stones-stones-stones-by-mandi-hayes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/ea\/tapteamwebsitemain2019\/2020\/04\/08\/stones-stones-stones-by-mandi-hayes\/","title":{"rendered":"Stones, stones, stones by Mandi Hayes."},"content":{"rendered":"

Stones! Stones! Stones!<\/b><\/p>\n

I am currently sitting at my dining room table at home, trying to do some work, but instead I find myself doodling on my notebook. I love to doodle, it\u2019s probably the most creative outlet I have at the moment. I am a very creative person, having previously studied at art school, but I just haven\u2019t allowed the time to evolve my art skills that I was once so obsessed about. Maybe I should dedicate some of my time stuck indoors to releasing my creative side again.<\/p>\n

Creativity isn\u2019t just about the freedom of self-expression and being artistic, it is also about the thought process, and how we respond to situations and tasks.<\/p>\n

As an Early Years Teacher, I am a huge fan of fostering creativity and using anything \u2018but toys\u2019 to stimulate and develop a child\u2019s creative mind. So, that made me think of what my top creative resource would be\u2026\u2026STONES!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stones are everywhere! I have a garden full of them (though they have significantly reduced in number due to using them frequently in nurseries). Stones offer so many possibilities and are an easy way to develop a child\u2019s interest in natural materials and their surroundings. Stones come in all shapes, sizes, textures and colours.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

(Lady the Ladybird stone)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I was recently working with a group of children who were exploring their local park. We were hunting for minibeasts, but unfortunately, we had no luck. We only found a few dead worms! I suddenly remembered that I had a ladybird stone that I made as a child (which is at least 20 years old). The next day, I brought it in for the children to explore and I couldn\u2019t believe the hours of fun the children had creating stories in the park with Lady the Ladybird. They took their own photos to create a story book about Lady the Ladybird\u2019s adventures. I have used stones as creative resource for years and so can you!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what can you do at home with all those stones in your garden?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Firstly, you need to establish some ground rules. Make sure your child knows how to play with stones safely (i.e. don\u2019t put them in your mouth, always wash them first with hot soapy water, and do not throw them at anything or anyone).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n