Use goofy fingerprint characters to encourage storytelling! Telling stories boosts creativity, self expression, and literacy.
Some free play with a stamp pad and some paper led Emma to create these two stories. Money was clearly on her mind (she recently earned for first dollar, but has yet to figure out what to do with it). For the top story to make sense, you need to pay attention to the “P” and “R” signs on her thumbprint people’s hats. The text at the bottom reads: “A robber took a monster’s money. The monster was sad. The police put the robber in jail. And the police gave the monster back his money.” I love that the policeman tells the monster that he loves him. :)
In the second story, our family has magically acquired a LOT of money. Maybe that’s why we like our monster?
Has a new art medium inspired your child to tell stories?
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
These are so wonderful. I love the “I love you” on the last picture.
With all those money bags on there you’d think she won the lottery. LOL I’m sure she’ll make that dollar go a long way. Very cute stories and drawings.
I’ve seen a lot of art projects and storytelling ideas but the way this blends the two is pretty special!
This is such a great activity!! Finger print and hand print activities are always a hit with kids :)
http://www.mamamiasheart2heart.com
Love it! So clever, my little guy creates stories when we get the playdoh out. He moves the “characters” all around and the playdoh toys too and really gets going with his scenarios and stories.
I love this! My kids love fingerprint art.
what great imagination she has. these stories are lovely
That is just so sweet! We’re into story telling at the moment with my daughter who is pre-writing. She dictates, I write and she illustrates with doodles and stickers. I think using fingerprints would be fabulous and she’d just love that!
those would make great framed art for a room!
It’s amazing what they can create with isn’t it! What great stories :-) My son is going through a phase of making up words and some are quite hilarious!
Beautiful!
That is cute. I love the stories.
This is so cute! What a great idea. I will have to try this with my 7 year old. I think he would enjoy doing something like this. He likes to write books so maybe he could write a book this way!
Such a creative storyteller.
We absolutely adore anything with storytelling and I think that R would get a kick out of this activity. I can’t wait to give him an ink pad and see what he comes up with! Isn’t it great that you get to see their thoughts and interests? Thanks for sharing. :)
These are just awesome MaryAnne! So fun and hilarious! Look at all that money! :)
She’s such a great storyteller, and what an imaginative way to facilitate storytelling. =)
This is so great. Love the stories and her creativity. So is Anna a name for baby #4?
Good eye :)
Very cute! Recently I got a pack of colored foam sheets and my kids made all kinds of cool stuff!
We need to get out our foam sheets again! Thanks for the reminder!
Love her drawings! I also love the part where it says, “I love you.” :) Does she have a compassionate heart??
She is very compassionate – love that about her.
I love this idea. So much creativity and imagination here :)
It’s so fun seeing bit and pieces of her imaginary world :)
I love how Emma turned her fingerprints into art and a story!
These are amazing! My kids also tell stories about putting people in jail. I’m particularly impressed by Emma’s depiction of the monster – size, emotion, distinctiveness from the humans…
How did Emma earn her dollar? Such a great milestone!
She earned the dollar by completing a variety of tasks over a series of days during a tough week :)
Tough week for me, not her, I should specify.
I have two not at all academically inclined 1st graders….. :)
Take her to the dollar store and she’ll suddenly find all sorts of uses for her dollar.
I’m sure she would! I’m content to let her save it, for now :)
Also, I wasn’t remotely academically inclined as a kid. She gets that from her dad. We both did well in school, though – although he LOVES his research job and I LOVE playing with kids at home now :)
hAAhAA! Makes me think of the song from Momma Mia…money, money, money!
What grade is she in?
She did a great job!
Emma is a very academically-inclined kindergartener :)