Pirate Play
Engagement Time
Half to All Day
Pirate Play is designed to improve your little one’s imagination skills and story building abilities. It will also help them with map reading and following instructions via the treasure hunts. In addition there are elements of art and craft and visual arts via costume design and creation of props.
Materials Required
Old Trousers - Cut off at about knee length A long T-shirt A belt, scarf or sash to tie around the t-shirt Elastic Black Cardboard Stapler Marker Pens/Pencils Cardboard Tube - ie. absorbent paper or toilet paper roll Treasure Chest - Non-Transparent Box Treasure - String and Buttons Empty Plastic Bottle - Washed and Dried Paper Gold Paint Small Rocks, Pebbles.
Method
This activity is one which does require a small amount of preparation if you are to get the best result. It can begin as soon as your little one wakes up in the morning and they can get dressed into their "Pirate Costume" rather than ordinary day clothes. You could then present them with a treasure map marking the location in which they will find their breakfast which may not be the kitchen table. To add to the day you may wish to provide pirate inspired food such as gold flakes for breakfast (cornflakes) or fish shaped toast as if they have just caught it from the sea. Once breakfast is finished your little one can use the black cardboard and string to make themselves an eye patch before complete their daily pirate chores. Give each task a pirate name such as scrubbing the deck for tidying the floor of their room; organising the other ship mates for tidying their toys or writing a ransom note for drawing some pictures while you set up for the next activity. While your little one is occupied cover a work bench with newspaper and let you little one paint the pebbles with the gold paint to look like gold. Make sure you count how many have been painted as you can hide these outside the house later in the day for your little one to find. Once you have finished these activities your little one could complete the coconut game on the website while you place out clues and the treasure for a treasure hunt around the house. Place the plastic bottle with a note inside somewhere where your little one will find it very easily as the first clue. They can then follow the other clues to find the treasure chest with the string and buttons. Once they find the treasure they can then make themselves a pirate necklace to complete their pirate costume. Once they have their necklace you could sit and read a pirate story such as Sinbad the Sailor or visit the library to pick up a copy of the book. Alternately you may wish to visit the video shop and hire a copy of Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (PG) and then let your little one jump online and play some of the Sinbad games. By this stage in the day it is probably about time to prepare some fish fingers and then walk the plank into the drink (have a bath). Note: If you are going to the effort of planning all the activities for such an adventure packed day you may wish to invite a friend to join in the fun and make it an even more memorable experience.
