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***this activity is great to repeat at the beginning of each summer when siblings will be together for more extended periods of time. Just be sure to purchase new items each year to increase enjoyment! Parents, read the optional Scripture alone before engaging the siblings.
Items Needed: ***optimal scenario: Parent sets up the play-space before either sibling sees the item.
-Bandana or hand towel
4-sided item that looks different on the front and back ( i.e finger puppet with rear details, miniature skyline or snow globe scene found in souvenir shop, picture cube, alphabet block),
2 siblings (can be done with parent/child but parent should not be too familiar with the item beforehand).
Tape (Optional) to secure the item to table underneath bandana
Key Target: Perspective, Consideration, Listening
Key Idea: “You and I can see things from different angles; sometimes you have different information than I do, and sometimes I have different information than you do. Let’s share what we both see!”
Optional Scripture: (Strongly recommend parent read alone prior to PLA and ponder during play.) Note how Matthew, Mark , Luke, and John each saw details in their lives with Jesus that the others didn’t note. They all wrote about what they saw giving us a larger perspective than only one single account. Read a group of selections like Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-38; John 12:12-19 to see this.
PLA Steps:
**Setup: Place the item on table between two chairs facing each other. Be sure the front of the item faces one chair and the rear of the item faces the other chair. Cover with bandana (or handtowel).
- Invite the two people to come and sit in the chairs.
-Have each person take turns raising up the bandana to look at only their side of the object.
-Ask them each the following questions (they can repeat lifting only their side of bandana with each one but keep other side covered) Remind them, if the answer cannot be seen for sure from their side, just say “I don’t know”:
Is this a person, thing, place, animal, or something else?
-Person/Animal: Is it holding anything? Does it have whiskers or facial hair? Does it have a tail or anything behind its back?
-Block: What letter do you think are on the sides? What other pictures do you think go with it?
How would you describe this? Would you say it is “awesome!”, “cute”, “pretty”, “strange” or some other word? Does it make you want to play with it or not? Listen as the other person describes it. What could you use it for other than its original purpose?
Now uncover completely and study together…get up and walk around it to see… are there any extra details from sides that you find together that you didn’t see alone?
Debrief: “Can you see how you both had information to share? It is like this in disagreements too; can you use this asking and listening when you have conflict with each other to help you see the whole problem instead of only your view. We will put this out for you to see and use it as a reminder to ask and listen.” Let them play with it for a bit, and then set it out on playroom shelf as a cue and hold it up or squeeze it during a conflict to remember how each person sees different components. In the disagreement ask:
“Can you describe what you are seeing/feeling? Now, can I share what I am seeing/feeling?”
“ Are there any details neither of us can really see easily? Can we hunt those together to come collect the most information we can to solve the issue?”
“What are you valuing in this scenario?”
“What am I valuing in this?”
“What is God valuing in this scenario?”
“What can we do to move closer to God’s values and to see more of His Perspective?”
EXTENDED PLA: use the bandana as a “trampoline”! Place a finger puppet in the center of bandana and each person hold two corners. Work together to have the finger puppet “jump” and land back on the bandana!
-If you do have a disagreement and you want to do more than apologize, write a note and place the cue item with the note on the other person’s pillow to initiate reconciliation. Or for smaller kids, ask them if they want “Perspective Pirate” or “Perspective Puppy” to go with them while they try to reconcile. Let them hold the puppet while they ask for forgiveness for not listening to another family member.
Repetition of perspective connections are fantastic throughout the life of a parent/child relationship! Do these things to repeat the concept of perspective with your kids!
Parent/Kid perspective plA:
WITH YOUR TWEEN GIRLS (8-12): Read the True Girl fiction series with characters Danika, Yuzi, Kate, and Toni written by Dannah Gresh and friends! These four books are wonderful stories that involve perspective and help illustrate how the same happenings can be seen with 4 different wonderful perspectives! Sharing all these perspectives give a beautiful collective picture of all that took place!
WITH TWEEN BOYS (8-12): Read Tom Trueheart which presents a different perspective on many fairy tales from the family of each princes point of view rather than the princesses.
WITH ALL KIDS: Read Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne
Parent/TEEN/Adult Child (or even SPouse date) Perspective PLA:
Key Idea: “ Your thoughts and perspectives are different than mine but I value them greatly!”
Purpose: Consideration, Perspective
Scripture link: Philippians 2:4; Isaiah 55:8-9
PLA Steps: Grab cell phones and go to a city hall, museum, botanical garden, or other place with a public building that has front and rear public access. One person go to the front, the other to the back. Take notes to answer the following questions.
What colors are on your side of the building?
How many windows are on your side? How many doors?
Is there anything in need of repair?
Is there any architectural detail that stands out as beautiful to you?
What is your favorite part of what you see?
Is it calm or busy on your side?
Are there plants in the yard on your side? Trees or shrubs or flowers? What colors?
Are there any trash cans or construction cones or other unpleasant things to see? What efforts have the groundskeepers made to draw your attention away from those things?
How would you describe this place if you were telling someone else about it?
**Now meet up and walk around it together? Any side details you both missed and can see together? Then go and discuss life in the same way over ice cream or favorite drive-thru! Use the following questions.
Can you describe what you are seeing/feeling/ thinking about most of the time on average day? Now, can I share what I am seeing/feeling/thinking?”
“ Are there any details in our lives or blessings that neither of us can readily see? Can we hunt those together?”
Are there any events or memories in your life right now that are causing you to feel fear or shame? Do you feel safe enough to share those? How can we build less overreaction into life so we can share these things with each other?
“What are you valuing most right now at this phase of your life?”
“What am I valuing most?”
“What is God valuing most for each of us?”
“Is there anything we can do to move closer to God’s values?”
May we PLA well to know each other more deeply and reconcile more smoothly!
