| When my youngest daughter was in | | | | categories, then "pink panther" would get you two |
| pre-kindergarten, I went to the prerequisite open | | | | points instead of one - as long as it also fit the |
| house. As the children played, the parents | | | | category. You could try "pink polka-dotted |
| gathered - either standing or perched precariously | | | | panther", but if the category is "type of cat" - |
| upon tiny chairs - waiting for the teacher to | | | | you might have a problem defending your answer. |
| speak. | | | | On the other hand, it's loads of fun trying. |
| The teacher gestured to each section as she | | | | ~TWO~ |
| explained how the children spent their day. We | | | | In case that was too much like playing for you, |
| got to know the art center. We saw the tricycles, | | | | here is a fun way to practice poetry that I |
| swings and seesaws they used during outdoor | | | | learned in my Creative Writing classes in college. |
| play. We were introduced to the block building, | | | | Try playing with word magnets - no refrigerator |
| kitchen, and music centers. | | | | required. |
| When she finished, she smiled while waiting for | | | | The object isn't to come up with anything serious, |
| our questions. One parents question stuck out in | | | | although sometimes you do by accident. Focus on |
| my mind: Besides going over their ABC's and | | | | finding a rhythm and the way words sound |
| 123's, what do they actually learn? | | | | together. It's okay to get silly. |
| My Answer: Playing, while being a fun way to pass | | | | You can find these word magnets at most |
| the time, can also teach. This is as true for poets | | | | bookstores. |
| as it is for the pre-k crowd. | | | | ~THREE~ |
| THREE WAYS TO PLAY | | | | The third way to play is as easy as closing your |
| ~ONE~ | | | | eyes. |
| A fun tool in the poet's toolbox is alliteration. My | | | | Find a quiet place and use your imagination. |
| favorite way to sharpen this tool is to play the | | | | Visualize a place in detail or become a different |
| game Scattergories. | | | | person. Immerse yourself in this imaginary place |
| The way to get points is to come up with unique | | | | or imaginary life. Next, you write as much of this |
| answers, because if someone else comes up with | | | | detail as you can. Bring it (or him/her) to life on |
| what you wrote down, neither one of you get a | | | | paper. |
| point. The way to pile up points is to come up | | | | Practice can be as boring as repeating the |
| with a single answer that had words beginning | | | | multiplication tables or it can be a fun experience. |
| with the same letter. For example, if "P" was the | | | | Boring gets old fast - personally, give me the fun. |
| letter rolled and "panther" fit one of the | | | | |