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One Dad's Quest to Regain Control of his Kingdom

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How To Spur The Creativity Of Your Children

November 2, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Not everyone is creatively inclined, and not every child will be, as is logical. However, it’s worth considering how, as a parent, you can try and help your child think more creatively, become involved in practicing their own expression, or in simply introducing them to novel and loving forms of art. There are many benefits to this, some cognitive, many emotional, and plenty experienced. Anything you can do to help your children live with more imagination and wonder is surely a good thing.

 

That being said, spurring the creativity of your children in the first instance may seem like somewhat of a difficult task. How are you supposed to do this in an organized, repeatable manner, or how might you do so in a way that is suitable for them? You may be into French detective films from the 1940s, but it’s unlikely that this will be as appropriate to share with them at this stage in their development.

 

Thankfully, this needn’t be rocket science. With the following advice, you’ll be sure to spur the creativity of your children, on the off chance that they love it:

 

Show Them Theatre

There’s almost nothing more engaging, hilarious, mystifying, and impressive than heading to the theatre. Children that have been deprived of this experience are certainly missing out, and this goes not only for young children but teenagers too. It might be that sourcing broadway tickets could be one of the best and most incredible festive treats you hope to enjoy, no matter if you love musicals, dramas or internationally renown plays. This is sure to bolster the wonder of your children, which in turn will bolster their creativity.

 

Engage In Creative Arts

Viewing art is one thing, while practicing it can be even more impressive. Why not take time to engage in creative arts with your children? No matter how this takes place in your household, it’s usually valid. Perhaps you’ll begin a creative writing session with your children and work on a story together paragraph by paragraph, or you’ll get involved in crafts, or you’ll enter a local pottery making class. These active, creative passions can help you bond with your children, and will help them actualize their imagination in a fundamental manner.

 

Invest & Pay For Lessons

 

If your child shows an inclination for a certain thing, it can be worthwhile to help them develop those positive feelings and give them the tools to try and encourage their art. You may decide to purchase a guitar or a violin and allow them to take lessons, or perhaps help them enter a landscape painting class or art study group outside of school. Often imagination is not completely nourished through an odd family visit or a limited period of a lesson in school, and so helping your children explore their natural talent or curiosity can surely spur their potential creativity from now into the future..

 

With this advice, you are certain to correctly encourage the imagination and creativity of your child.

Filed Under: fatherhood Tagged With: acting, art, artist, arts, creativity, dad, dads, drama, father, fatherhood, theater, theatre

Easy Ways to Get Your Kids Involved with Arts and Crafts

February 20, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

If you have kids, then you will know how important it is for you to help them with their creativity. There are a few ways that you can do this, so take a look below to find out more.

 

Start out with a Favorite Story

A favorite book or even a story is a fantastic starting point. There are so many arts and crafts that you can do that are all based on a character and this gives your child the chance to really relate to the art they are creating. If you are not able to find an arts and crafts set that is based on your child’s favorite character, then there is no reason why you can’t go on to create your own. Get out a pen and a drawing pad and show your child how easy it is for them to bring their creation to life. If you want to try and get your child into arts and crafts so they can do something special for Mother’s Day, why not look into gifts for mom instead?

Easy Ways to Get Your Kids Involved with Arts and Crafts

 

Interests

Some kids go through phases of obsessions. It could be trains, dinosaurs or even sports. Either way, if you know that your child has an interest in something then use this to your advantage. Look up pictures of trains that are in books or even find out what trains operated in your local area. When you do this, you can then encourage them to create their own location. Remember that you are not always limited to a pen and paper. In fact, you can easily cut out pictures from magazines and illustrations.

Easy Ways to Get Your Kids Involved with Arts and Crafts

Experiences

Novelty is everywhere for a child. They will probably take great pleasure in going to a farm, or even trying a new dish. Let them use their inspiration to further their own interests. If your child likes to let their ideas flow, then leave them alone with a pad and some pens. You might also want to buy them some clay, or even some thin pieces of wood. The possibilities are endless, and they can all amount to how your child perceives art.

 

Show them Artists

If you have taken your child to an art gallery or even a museum lately then there is a chance that you have spoken to them about a few names. If your child shows a particular affinity to a certain artist, then don’t be afraid to talk with them about it. Show them the colors that they use, why they use them and even the impression that it gives. When you do this, you can really help them to grow attached to them and you can even talk about their lives. This is a great way for you to get them hooked and it could even be the start of a brand-new hobby for them as well.

So, there are plenty of things that you can do to try and help your child to get interested in art, and the above tips should be more than enough to get you started.

Filed Under: fatherhood Tagged With: art, artist, arts and crafts, creativity, dad, dads, father, fatherhood

Holiday Gift Guide – Playmobil To The Rescue!

December 20, 2017 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Playmobil

 

Are you looking for two new Playmobil sets that are both affordable and fun? Consider the two below, as they are both a ton of fun and encourage kids to use their creativity and imagination.

My youngest daughter has been a huge fan of Playmobil for years and these sets were the perfect price for our pocketbook and you get a lot of things with each of them that can be used either with only this set or with mixed into other sets too.

Playmobil

PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendar “Jewel Thief Police Operation” (9007):  Looks like a thief is after the jewels, but the police are in pursuit! The Advent Calendar “Jewel Thief Police Operation” with lots of glittering trinkets contains twenty-four surprise items for each day leading up to Christmas. Once all the pieces are revealed, play out an exciting police chase and capture! For an extra surprise, the included safe can be used a piggy bank! Includes backdrop, two figures, jewelry case, police motorcycle, gold bars, money, handcuffs, wanted poster, functioning safe, and tons of other accessories.

Available: August 2017   Age: 4-10  MSRP: $24.99

Playmobil Playmobil

My daughter specifically loved the safe and the small tools that come with this. This was a ton of fun to put together and I loved to see how she incorporated this with a few other sets that she has!

 

Playmobil

 

PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendar “Royal Ice Skating Trip” (9008):  Glide across the frozen lake with the royal family! The Advent Calendar “Royal Ice Skating Trip” contains twenty-four surprise items for each day leading up to Christmas. Once all the pieces are revealed, you’ll see all the woodland creatures gathered to watch everyone skate. As an added bonus, behind one of the doors is a gorgeous bracelet, perfectly sized for kids to wear! Includes backdrop, two adult figures, one child figure, snowman, sleigh, deer, foxes, squirrels, owl, snow- covered tree, life-size bracelet, and many other accessories.

Available: August 2017   Age: 4-10  MSRP: $24.99

Playmobil

 

This set was another fun one, as every day in December you get to open up a new surprise. My daughter loved not know what would come next and every day she has had a smile on her face with the fun small things that you get. In all you are getting a ton out of this one set that can be used in so many different ways!

 

 

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Filed Under: product review Tagged With: 2017 holiday guide, creativity, gift guide, gifts, imagination, PLAYMOBIL, product review, toys

New PLAYMOBIL Ice Cream Truck Helps Create a Cool, Creative Summer!

June 11, 2017 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

PLAYMOBIL Ice Cream Truck photo disclaimer_zpsaa1cb05b.jpg

When it comes to creative play and the summer, PLAYMOBIL allows kids to use their imagination to create amazing worlds and each piece that they create can be added in to help expand the universe. Now you can grab a sweet treat from the PLAYMOBIL Ice Cream Truck! Step up to the truck window to order one scoop or two and chat with friends while you enjoy your ice cream. This tasty frozen dessert is available in a dish or cone. When the day is over, the owner can close up shop but lower the window door and driving off to a new destination. Set includes one adult figure, three child figures, ice cream truck, table, ice cream, cones, dishes, ice cream scoop, beverages, and other accessories.

PLAYMOBIL Ice Cream Truck

My Take on The PLAYMOBIL Ice Cream Truck 

I have always been impressed with the quality of the PLAYMOBIL creations and the Ice Cream Truck continues to show how great they are at capturing remarkable detail but also an eye to distinct touches that will spark a great imagination and creativity in any child. This Ice Cream Truck was made the same way and really stands out. My youngest daughter loves PLAYMOBIL, but when she heard about the Ice Cream Truck she wanted to create it for herself. She took all of the parts of this out and was able to build it herself (she is 9.5). Once created she secluded herself with her other PLAYMOBIL items and really had some fun creating a story and world around what the truck was doing. If you love PLAYMOBIL, you will love the Ice Cream Truck too and I highly recommend that you pick it up today!

PLAYMOBIL Ice Cream Truck

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Filed Under: product review Tagged With: creativity, Ice cream, imagination, PLAYMOBIL

Lionel Mega Tracks Provides High Flying Action!

November 6, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Lionel is expanding beyond model trains with the introduction of Mega Tracks, a revolutionary rail system where kids can use their imagination to design and build their own race courses!

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I grew up with Lionel trains. Their high quality train sets are ones that I still have in my home today. This holiday season we will be pulling out our train set but we also will be pulling out something brand new from Lionel! Lionel is expanding beyond model trains with the introduction of Mega Tracks, a revolutionary rail system where kids can use their imagination to design and build their own race courses!

My daughters love to create their own worlds and this has been the case since they were very young and with this very cool new system, Lionel Mega Tracks allows kids the ability to build track layouts virtually anywhere using the clamp and construction system, and can also create their own stunts by twisting the TwisTrack™, a new flexible track system.

Lionel is expanding beyond model trains with the introduction of Mega Tracks, a revolutionary rail system where kids can use their imagination to design and build their own race courses!

We did this in our own home and found that once you have it built you can then send theMega Tracks vehicle into high speed action, using a handheld RC controller to adjust the speed of the vehicle and keep it on the track.

You get quite a bit of track and this allows you to build many unique things. With the  set you get 20 feet of TwisTrack™, 55 construction pieces to build customized  track layouts (including track clamps and connectors), Rail Racer vehicle and charger, handheld RC controller. Is this enough? Yes, you can build some things, but depending on your kid you may want additional  to expand your track.

Lionel is expanding beyond model trains with the introduction of Mega Tracks, a revolutionary rail system where kids can use their imagination to design and build their own race courses! Lionel is expanding beyond model trains with the introduction of Mega Tracks, a revolutionary rail system where kids can use their imagination to design and build their own race courses!

My daughters loved that they were in control of the vehicle bu also that they could also control the design of the track itself. It seemed that part of the fun is using your imagination to build over and over again!

    • MSRP: $99.99 (for master set)
    • Recommended Age: 8+

Here is some thoughts on the Lionel Mega Tracks system! Enjoy!

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Filed Under: fatherhood, product review Tagged With: 2016 Holiday Gift Guide, creative, creativity, gift, gifts, Lionel, product review, toys

Playmobil’s NHL Hockey Arena – Lifelike game play! #Playmobil

October 9, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

PLAYMOBIL’s NHL Hockey Arena

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About the Playmobil NHL Arena

Skate into action with your own hockey match at the Playmobil NHL Hockey Arena.  Each of the four NHL players feature a movable arm and hockey stick for even more realistic game play.  Simply pull back the lever to swing the stick and fire the puck down the rink towards the opposing goal.  Use the goalie to defend against offensive plays by clipping the player to the goal and then using the joystick to maneuver the goalie from side to side for some game-saving blocks! Thanks to the included team decals, kids can customize each player to represent their favorite NHL team.  Set includes four NHL players (two per team), four hockey pucks, game play rules booklet,  player number decals, logo decals for all 30 NHL teams, score-keeping slide rule, and other game-tastic accessories.

PLAYMOBIL’s NHL Hockey Arena

PLAYMOBIL’s NHL Hockey Arena PLAYMOBIL’s NHL Hockey Arena PLAYMOBIL’s NHL Hockey Arena

My take on the Playmobil NHL Arena
My daughter is loves Playmobil and loves to use her creativity to bring the world of Playmobil alive. She has used many different sets to create vibrant tapestries to create her own world. This new NHL arena brought in a whole new way to have fun with her creativity and we found that not only could she incorporate this set into her world, but beyond that the fact that you can actually play a hockey game against someone else made it even more fun! As is the case with other sets this set is very well made and I love all of the additional add-ons that you can purchase with this such as the Stanley Cup or even a Zamboni! Playmobil continues to offer amazing quality that will last you years! Below you will see a video that my daughter and I made to let you see the arena and to give you some more of our thoughts!

 

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Filed Under: fatherhood, product review Tagged With: creativity, fatherhood, imagination, PLAYMOBIL, product review, product reviews

The smell of grease paint: Sharing your passions with your kids

March 14, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

A picture of Chris Lewis and Grayce Warren from high school at the end of our senior year high school musical, The Pajama Game

Is there something that you did as a young person that you want to share with your own kids? Where you an athlete? And actor? An artist? Do you encourage your kids to follow your footsteps? How are you sharing your passions with your kids?

Growing up , I was involved in a lot of different things. Once middle school and high school hit, I was involved in many student organizations as well as band, choir, and Theater. I was the type of person that was active in many things and excelled at many things.

A photo of the seniors in the marching band in my high school

When I became a father I knew that I wanted to share my love of the arts with my kids, but I didn’t know how they would I knew that I wanted to share I love of the Arts with my kids, but I didn’t know how they would react or connect with it. I’ve never been the type of dad at that would force my past experiences on them, or Woodforest them to try something they weren’t interested in. I do encourage them to the willing and open to new experiences though, as I think this is in important part of being culturally well rounded.

Officers within the high school drama club when Chris Lewis was the President of the club

From an early age I shared some of the videos of myself doing musicals in highschool with my kids. I let them see me in marching band competitions, being silly, being young. While this place me in a vulnerable position as a father, I think it also allowed my kids to connect with me in a deeper more meaningful way.

A photo of students in the Acting class that I was in during college at Western Michigan University

I still love to share my love of the Arts with the kids. I love to take my daughters to professional musicals and talk to them afterwards about what they like and what they learned. It is my hope that this is something that they will continue to enjoy because for me it is a way that I can continue to connect with them no matter what age they are at, and it allows me to have a deeper bond with them as well.

A picture of Chris Lewis from high school at the end of our senior year high school musical, The Pajama Game

What are some ways that you share your past experiences and passions with your kids? How they reacted? What do you still want to share with them in the future?

I look forward to your thoughts!

Filed Under: dads with daughters, fatherhood Tagged With: arts, creativity, fatherhood, memories, passion, sharing your passions

Build & Imagine Toys Lets Creativity Come Alive!

July 29, 2015 by dadofdivas 2 Comments

Build-and-Imagine
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Each Build & Imagine StoryWalls play-set is made of colorfully illustrated magnetic panels that a child joins together. The result is a scene that they bring to life with the enclosed dress-up dolls and more than 40 magnetic costumes and props. The illustrated details act as story starters, sparking imaginative play. Toy industry experts have taken notice including Dr. Toy, Parents’ Choice, The National Parenting Center, Mr. Dad and many others.

Build-and-Imagine
Build & Imagine toys put the child in the role of architect and storyteller, and offers adventurous leading female characters. The color blue is sublimely sprinkled throughout the illustrated scenery. Mom blogger CoolMomPicks noted in her 2015 Toy Fair synopsis that Build & Imagine is a “smart toy for girls that defy the pink aisle. In other words, no princesses, ballerinas or fashionistas, whatever career that is.”

Build-and-Imagine

 

To tell you my own thoughts about this set, I, and my daughter put a video review together to encapsulate them! Hope you enjoy our thoughts!

Malia’s Beach House • $59.99 • Ages 4+

Dr. Toy’s 2015 Best Classic Toys

PAL Top 10 Language Learning Toys

Parents’ Choice Gold Award Winner

The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

 

Marine Rescue Center • $49.99 • Ages 4+

Creative Child Building Toy of the Year

The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Parent’s Choice Gold Award

 

Day At The Beach • $49.99 • Ages 4+

Mr. Dad Seal of Approval

Parent’s Choice Gold Award

The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

Build-and-Imagine

ABOUT BUILD & IMAGINE

Laurie Peterson, an award-winning toy designer and mother, founded Build & Imagine after noticing that the kinds of play experiences she enjoyed as a child (involving building, creativity, and experimentation) were poorly represented in the girls’ section of most toy stores. She now develops magnetic building toys with leading female characters and rich narrative details to engage both girls and boys. The company got its jumpstart with a successful Kickstarter project, and will have five themed building sets available this fall.  Click on the company’s website, www.buildandimagine.com, for products, inspiration and an informative blog.

 

 

Build-and-Imagine 

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Filed Under: fatherhood, product review Tagged With: Build & Imagine, creativity, dolls, imagination, Playset, product review

Pley.com Lets All LEGO Fans Continue Their Passion!

June 4, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Pley-com
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I have been a big LEGO fan for years and since I have been a father I have loved sharing this love with them. I grew up in the 1980’s and for me the bit sets were the space LEGO sets. Today there are so many other sets for people to choose from that incorporate popular movies culture and more.

I have to appreciate all that LEGO has done to create amazing sets for beginners to experts as well as both male and females. As a father to two girls I love that my girls can have fun with any type of LEGO brick set that they want no matter if it may be seen as gender specific.

pley-com

Pley.com lets you take your love for LEGO and lets you explore your passion for LEGO sets to the next level. No matter what type of LEGO sets you like, Pley.com works to get to know the LEGO likes of the LEGO fanatic in your life and lets you then rent those LEGO sets for yourself. Whether you love Star Wars, Fairies, Space or Forest, you can find LEGO brick sets that will meet your interests at Pley.com.

All for a reasonable monthly price, you can take out sets, build them, return them and get more for the future. Big sets, small sets and everything in-between, this company seems to have it all.

Pley-com

While this seems to be a bit of a novel idea, it actually was a lot of fun and in the end my daughters and I had a blast building together and so will you and your own LEGO lover!

 

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Filed Under: fatherhood, product review Tagged With: creativity, father, fatherhood, LEGO, LEGO bricks, pley, rental

Modarri Promotes Creative Play & Learning!

May 15, 2015 by dadofdivas 1 Comment

Modarri
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As a father I love being able to encourage my kids to get involved in creative play. When I find toys that not only promote this, but also take a known toy concept in a whole new direction, I am always interested in experiencing the toy. I initially heard about Modarri toys last fall and back in October I shared my thoughts on jumpstarting your inner mechanic with Modarri last fall too and even gave a few thoughts on video.

Modarri

 

Since then I have to say that my girls continue to love to use these. What they love most is the ability that Modarri provides them to take these cars and completely make them their own. You are not made to settle on the colors, body style or really anything on the cars and instead you can mix and match and make the cars into whatever you want along the way. 
Modarri

 

 As someone who loves to think outside the box, this company continues to inspire creativity in my kids, but also in their friends. Anytime that my daughters have friends over and they play cars, they pull these out and inevitably their friends always want to know more and they always want to show these to their parents when they leave. Thus, I have become a sideline spokesperson for Modarri letting so many parents know about this company through the creative play that their kids engaged in while at our home.

Modarri keeps coming out with so many unique cars with differing body types and styles. Each of the Modarri cars are colorful, aerodynamic and best of all, completely interchangeable with each other. In the end you and your kids can work to create the ultimate car through the mixing and matching of the Modarri car bodies, wheels, etc.

Modarri continues to innovate and create amazing toys that your kids will love to play with for years to come.

If you like these (and I believe that you will) I am able to  provide you a discount code to use at www.modarri.com. You can get free shipping and a 10% discount off the retail price by using the unique Dad of Divas reader promo code: “SAVE10”. 

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Filed Under: fatherhood, product review Tagged With: cars, collectibles, creative play, creativity, father, fatherhood, Modarri

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