I just discovered a wonderful book called Life is a Verb by Patty Dign. It is a beautiful, fun and brilliant book with the goal to help the reader along a path to live more intentionally and mindfully. It is packed full of colorful and creative pictures, quotes, activities and stories to encourage and guide discovery. It is not written for young children but the author is a mother so she shares many parenting/kid stories and always keeps them in mind. Below are just a few of the many ideas any family could easily add to the “fun things to do” list. Intention – Always carry a pencil and notebook for doodling and writing/ remembering ideas. Just for fun, try to write or draw something in it every day. Mindfulness – Individually or as a family sit down for at least 10 minutes at least one time a week for focused free writing in your journal. Pose a question such as “When are you most happy?” or reflect on a quote. Any kind of focused thinking and then writing is the goal. Do not worry about spelling, grammar or punctuation.
Joy – Play some fun music and simply dance for at least five minutes a day. This is a great activity any time but especially so if you are stuck somehow or sad or mad or having a hard time in any way.
Wonder – Choose a small object that holds meaning to you… a charm, a pine cone, a small rock or shell, perhaps a tiny toy. If you do not have anything like this, try and find one in the woods, on the beach, in an antique or dime store. It can be from anywhere and be anything you wish as long as it speaks to you in some way. As you go through your day, hold it safe, keep it company, sleep with it under your pillow, share it with others. Let it remind you of small joys and finding wonders in the world.
Celebration – Carry a pack of birthday candles with you so no matter where you are and what you are doing you can celebrate! Celebrate taking a test, finishing a project, making a choice, learning how to ride a bike, anything large or small or in between. It can be for a success or even a failure. Cake is not required, just the lighting of a small candle (or two or many) to mark and celebrate life in every way.
Kelly Dupre of Grand Marais is an artist, children’s author, and educator with over 20 years teaching experience with all age groups in a variety of settings. The activities in this once-amonth column are spin-offs and combinations of ideas she has used and learned from teachers, parents, kids, books, and workshops. Only some of the activities has she actually thought of herself! Do you have a project or an idea you would like to see on the Whirligigs page? Let us know! Send your suggestion to starnews@boreal.org.
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