Most
children have an inherent fascination with space. It is that massive
place above their heads that goes on forever. Tiny points of light
shine out of the great dark, making imaginary pictures in the air
above their heads. Then, as they learn and grow, they realize those
points of light are immense explosions, shooting fiery chunks of elements
out into the void, only to, sometimes, have them swing back around
the flaming star in a circle, and slowly begin to form a planet.
The cosmos
provides such a wide range of exciting ideas that it is a natural
topic to encourage your child to explore. One way to do this is to
involve them in a project to decorate their room based on an outer
space theme. Together you can research astronomy, and perhaps develop
a genuine interest for science in the child. At the same time, you
can hold their attention by creatively selecting the most interesting
aspects of this far reaching subject, or simply garnishing your research
with aliens and space battles.
The intuitive
first step for creating a space themed room is to paint the area black.
Unfortunately this will have the effect of making the room feel smaller,
hotter, and gloomier. Instead, use darkness and light to create the
appearance of the blackness of space.
An inexpensive
example of this method is to use stars that glow-in-the-dark. Scatter
them across the ceiling and walls to create a mini-galaxy. You can
take this a step further using glow-in-the-dark-paint. Trace an outline
of the object you want to make on the material of your choice, and
then cut it out. Paint the object carefully with the iridescent substance.
If you are applying the paint directly to the wall, you may want to
use tape along the outlines to avoid a mistake. You can attach your
materials using thumb tacks or double sided tape.
This
method can be used with regular paint to create a daytime galaxy.
A mixture of the two however can provide a very interesting look,
allowing you to have two different decorative schemes, depending on
whether the lights are on or off. You should of course, be careful
to monitor the effect glow-in-the-dark materials in the room have
on the child’s sleep habits.
Planets
and comets can be built using Styrofoam balls, easily purchased at
any craft store. Research the size and appearance of the various planets
with your child before purchasing materials. Make a scale of the different
planets, which will determine how big your Styrofoam balls should
be in relation to one another. Bookmark pictures of the various planets
you want to create, and use them as a reference when coloring the
Styrofoam. As you learn more about planets, engage the child’s
imagination by talking about what it must be like on those strange
worlds, and what the people living there would be like. Try and get
them to ask questions, and help them find the answers in various reference
materials.
When
placing the planets, use your research to place them in correct relation
to one another. If you have a ceiling light you can use this as a
sort of sun. Otherwise, you can cut a round piece of cardboard, painted
either with glow-in-the-dark or reflective paint, and tape this to
the ceiling. A sun will allow you to create orbits around it, for
the various planets.
To turn
the child’s bed into a space ship, purchase a piece of cardboard
that is large enough to cover the long side of their bed. You may
have to use two pieces to a side if you can’t find a piece that
is big enough by itself. Trace the outline of a spaceship onto the
cardboard and then cut it out with a scissor or exact-o knife. Paint
the proper colors onto the outline, wait for them to dry, and then
attach them to the sides of the child’s bed with tape or thumbtacks.
Look in books and articles for ideas about what would be found in
a real spaceship, and then create panels and screens using the same
method. Wings and joysticks are also a nice effect.
If you
find your child is getting bored with all of the research, you can
spice your activities by exploring the science fiction aspects of
outer space. The best science fiction is based on real science, and
this is one way to encourage an interest in the knowledge that we
have about outer space, and in science itself. You can explore the
ideas of aliens by looking at what we know of other planets, and imagining
what kind of alien would live on that world. A space battle can be
a way to discuss the physics of what an explosion would look like
in outer space. There is really no limit to the ways you can engage
your child’s interest in this field.
Children
should not try any of these ideas out themselves without the consent
and supervision of an adult. Caution should always be used in any
activity that involves a child. Make certain that none of your decorative
efforts causes any damage to the child’s safety
Joey
Lewitin is an artist and interior designer who has always advised
the use of creativity in decorating ones home. For many years he has
been one of the premier Pebble Artists working with PebbleArt Inc
to create <a href="http://pebblez.com"> unique home
décor accessories using natural stone</a> These designs
can be seen at PebbleZ.com
Or if
you don’t want to use anchor text
Joey
Lewitin is an artist and interior designer who has always advised
the use of creativity in decorating ones home. For many years he has
been one of the premier Pebble Artists working with PebbleArt Inc
to create unique home décor accessories using natural stone.
These designs can be seen at http://PebbleZ.com
