About Sweetmama Editor
Nadine Silverthorne’s love of journaling began in Grade One with the entry, “I am the greatest dancer!” Two babies (and countless diaper changes) later, she has found her home away from home as editor of SweetMama. Don’t miss her humorous bi-weekly accounts of the joys and pains of working while raising them fabulous.
Save the Drama for Your Mama
silver spoons canada
(Jul.12.10)
With a writer/editor for a mother and videographer/editor/filmmaker for a father, it should come as no surprise that my kids have a flair for the dramatic. To be clear, I don't just mean your day-to-day histrionics (though they have their fair share of those as well). My kids have developed a love of performing. Stage plays to be exact.
After seeing their tween-age cousin perform in several school and theatre camp plays over the years, my son Nate was ad-libbing his first plays by age four. His sister, being the more physical/less cerebral one, just wants to be the star of the show and the comedic relief (picture a pint-sized, pretty Jerry Lewis with a penchant for Pikachu costumes).
After our kid-size picnic table got too crowded (and dangerous) with both of them using it as a makeshift stage, I got it in my head that we should build a bigger, more proper platform in the backyard (with the deck stairs making for perfect amphitheatre-style seating).
It was surprisingly easy to put together and with the addition of costumes, the three-act play that ensued (about a vampire, a talking pumpkin and three woodsmen -- complete with musical numbers!) was a hilarious, proud-mama treat. Here's how you can make one too.
What you'll need:
A very large piece of plywood (ours is about 8 x 10, left over from a semi-complete basement reno)
6-8 bricks or cinder blocks
A length of rope that can stretch from fencepost to fencepost (or tree, or whatever post-like item you might have in the yard)
A pair of unwanted, flat sheets
Binder clips, clothespins or vice grips to keep the sheets in place
Old Hallowe'en costumes, dress-up gear and any hats/headgear you might have kicking around
Instructions:
1. Place the bricks/cinder blocks evenly to support edges and centre of plywood.
2. Place the plywood on top (I'm not that strong, so my husband did this part - team effort!)
3. Tie the rope across your yard (this is easy for us - our yard is only 13 feet wide)
4. Hang the sheets over the rope and tighten the rope as necessary to prevent a slump in the middle.
5. Secure the sheets with vice grips/binder clips/clothespins as needed.
5. Pass them the costumes, give them a little prompt for inspiration and watch their creativity come alive.
How are you keeping your kids entertained this summer?
Thought that was sweet? You'll enjoy: