Children love tents, forts and hiding places. This is a great way to harness a secret drawing place and foster the exploration of concepts such as under, hidden, or upside-down.

When prpposing a new position for drawing children can develop their body awareness, build on different muscles strength and gain new points of view and perspectives.

Child drawing under table with paper taped above them

What Could Lead Us to This Play Invitation

  • Children have been exploring hideaways and building forts;
  • Children are curious in exploring their body movements;
  • Children are excited to try unusual things, to break the routine.

Materials Needed

  • Markers or crayons
  • Butcher paper
  • Tape

Setting up This Play Invitation

  1. Tape the paper underneath the table.
  2. Place markers or crayons under the table too.

    Tip: You can add some cushions and blankets so children feel comfortable while laying down.

How to Create the Painting

  1. Invite the children to lie under the table and draw on the paper.

How to Nurture the Natural Unfolding of the Child’s Identity During This Play Invitation

  • Children have the right to use all the spaces in the classroom. There shouldn’t be forbidden places in a classroom that belongs to the children. Using all the possibilities that a given space can give us, in terms of light, sound, textures, body positions, etc., is a way to enrich the curriculum.

The Academic Learning Opportunities

  • MATH: Explore positioning, under and over.
  • PHYSICAL: Build on their motor skills and visual-spatial relationships.
  • ART: Explore new points of view and new ways to use their bodies in a creative process.

Extensions

  • Invite children to transform the table into a full-fledged fort. Add flashlights.

Book Recommendation

A wonderful book about looking at things from another perspective.