Spinners for grinners

Sometimes the simplest things spark the biggest grins.

I reflected on this idea earlier today as I watched a group of preschoolers delight at catching bubbles that were blown using a simple bubble wand. As those glassy bubbles floated and shimmered into the air the children chased and reached, popped and poked, all the while with big beaming smiles on their faces. It was a little moment of magic.

Sometimes I see that same magic occurring when children make simple objects that can be adapted to catch a breeze. With the addition of a short string a homemade paper bird becomes a ‘kite’, a cardboard butterfly becomes a mobile. Children suddenly find the irresistible urge to run with their kite trailing a metre behind them, and another little bit of magic occurs.

In the art world there’s a whole genre called Kinetic Sculpture. Kinetic sculptures are forms that were designed and crafted to incorporate movement. Artists such as Alexander Calder and Joan Miro created finely balanced sculptures, often huge, that moved like airy mobiles, balancing simple shapes that rearranged themselves with each movement.

By cutting a circle into a spiral it’s very easy to make a simple but effective kinetic mobile with your child.

Teamwork is required. Here’s how its done:

• Draw a circle onto a piece of heavy paper or light cardboard…. trace around a plate if that helps. You’ll find that if the paper is too thin it may tear, too stiff it may not be easy to cut. The weight of a cereal box is about right.

• Invite your child to decorate the circle on both sides using crayons, pastels or textas or whatever they like. Decorations can be as simple or as elaborate as they wish, but if using paint allow for drying time.

• Make a mark in the centre of the circle (no need to measure or fuss… just judge it by eye).

• Draw a spiral from the centre of the circle out to the edge. Cut along this spiralling line with scissors, you’ll probable find it helps to turn the circle as you go.

• Attaching a streamer or ribbon at the tail adds colour and another kinetic opportunity.

• Fasten a hanging string to the centre of the spiral using tape, a stapler, or simply tying it on.

• Hang the finished spinner up in a place where it can move, and proudly admire it twisting at the slightest breeze.

• Have fun!