surviving lock-down
This one’s a bit like the chalk bodies on the kitchen floor, except kids lie outside on the dirt (they’ll dust off) and you draw around them with a twig. Or they draw around each other. Then comes the fun bit. Embellish the yard kid with leaves for patterned shirts, tufts of grass for hair, stones for eyes, feathers for earrings, etc. The possibilities are endless. Sometimes, a few days after rain, the dirt is dry on top but slightly moist, and darker, underneath. Perfect!
Dr Toni Risson is a storyteller and a cultural historian who has penned everything from children’s picture books to a PhD on the Magic of Lollies. An expert on the Greek cafe phenomenon, Toni curated Meet Me at the Paragon for the State Library of Queensland, and her latest book, Brisbane’s Greek Cafes: A Million Malted Milks, was a finalist in the 2019 Queensland Literary Awards. Having encountered the elegant Paragon Cafe in Katoomba as a child, Toni developed a fascination with silky oak panelling, bevelled mirrors and Art Deco wall lights long before she understood the stories behind Australia's iconic Greek cafe. She continues to document our lost café culture. View more posts
how to play with kids