With the start of the school year comes whole slew of new social
challenges: getting to know new friends, navigating different
routines, and meeting the challenges of a brand-new grade level.
What can parents do to help? Create a safe haven at home with
the help of low-key creative play. Here are some ideas: what
would you add to this list? - Open-ended drawing activities
(using materials as simple as a white Drawing Pad and crayons or
colored pencils) help kids wind down and process their feelings
at the end of a long day. To encourage communication, ask your
children to draw a scene from school and tell you about it. -
For kids who need help opening up, themed paper gently guides
the artist to communicate. Create-a-Face Pad, for instance,
features blank faces to fill with features, helping kids explore
their emotions—and parents sneak a peek at what their little
ones are feeling. - A themed coloring pad is the perfect calming
activity at the end of the day. Try one with lots of variety but
no pre-scripted s