City Planning – Here’s how you can help kids populate a play world!

This blog is part of our “Summer Sparks” series where we will give you tips to inspire a summer of wonder! For more ideas on how to encourage imagination all summer long check out more blogs and toys!

If you could live in any town in your wildest dreams, what would it be like?” A peculiar question coming from a Mama over her morning cup of coffee. Peculiar enough to perk up those ears of her 7 year old and turn that little head away from the TV.

This question was just the spark my little guy needed to get that amazing imagination of his running on all cylinders. I laid out our town map and grabbed the house blocks, building blocks, some people, cars, and construction vehicles as he continued his elaborate description. Oh yes, this was going to be fun.

When I suggested he created that very town he was thrilled – as was his 4 year old brother happily swept away on this journey as well.

It always amazes me how imaginative kids are! Their whole morning was spent creating and living in “The Town of All Seasons”.

Four castles were built surrounding the town mat. The Winter castle was made using rounded blocks, as the snow would be draped over top of the peaks rounding them out. The Spring castle (hilariously) had all the construction vehicles out front, as spring is the time the work gets done. The summer castle had trees growing all over the roof, and the Fall castle had orange and red ‘leaves’ covering the peaks.

And goodness the stories that came from this town! The winter castle was freezing the stream which didn’t allow the water to flow to the summer castle for their trees. A King was crowned to solve this debacle (clearly – the 7 year old), and royal subjects (yep – the 4 year old) were given roles to rectify the situation.

A magic building in the middle was constructed to tame all of the seasons and allow each area of the town to live peacefully with one another.

I loved listening to their imaginative tales, their problem solving, and their creativity. I also loved that second cup of coffee it provided this Mama …

Such a simple idea presented with just a few special items and creativity just flows out of children. Amazing.