Keys

Keys are magical to children. They represent endless possibilities, they could open anything! I would recommend finding a couple of keys you no longer need and giving them to your children.  Some house decor stores sell decorative keys like the ones pictured above. These decorative keys always seem just a little more mysterious and magical due to their unusual shape and feel. If your children are a little perplexed as to what to do with the keys at first then use one of these prompts to get their imaginations whirring:
1) "What do you think this key opens?"
2) "If this key could open anything, what would you want it to open?"
3) "Who do you think this key belongs to?"

My own children have spent hours trying the keys in all the doors of our house and making up little plays about the keys. Sometimes the keys give the key holder a magical power, and other times the key opens up a hidden world that my children disappear into. Their imaginative play has really taken off since the first key showed up. Every once in a while I'll find an really interesting looking old key and leave it out somewhere for the children to find and instantly new stories and worlds emerge-try it with your children today!