Name of Activity:. Magic Carpet

Category:. : Magical Mystery Time

Props: A piece of carpet that has been decorated to look shiny, colorful, unusual, or bright.

Your Role: Travel guide and coach.

Directions: Show your child the magic carpet. Explain that this magic carpet has extraordinary powers that can enable the child to go anywhere or do anything that he or she wants to do. Encourage your child to sit on the magic carpet and then to think what is can do, I/e. Where he would like to do, what she would like to have happen, or what he would like to do that he cannot do know.

Goals for You: Your role is to help your child understand the power of positive thinking--that he or she can entertain many exciting and interesting possibilities. Your child can begin to believe that he can go anywhere and be anything, in his imagination first and then in real-life. Your job is to encourage your child to verbalize a desire: like to go to Disney World or to be a good artist. Then to picture him or herself accomplishing these magical ends. The magic carpet is the vehicle that allows him to entertain possibilities that entice him. Always remember that young children need to balance reality and magic--it's important for your child to know what can really happen, but also to create dreams and wishes.

Goals for Children: This is an activity that lets your child explore his or her "magical" nature in a safe environment and share his dreams with an accepting adult.

Possible Strategy:

What to say "Here's my magic carpet. You know if you sit on this carpet a lot of magical exciting things can happen, maybe just in your mind but maybe also for real. Have a seat.

What to do You may have to encourage your child to sit on the carpet; he or she may fee very reality-bound and thing you are putting him or her on. If he or she is having trouble, you may use the example of Aladdin and his carpet.

Possible Shaping:

What to say "Now that you are sitting on this carpet, think for a minute. Tell me where would you like the carpet to take you. What might you like this carpet to transform you into?"

What to do: Encourage your child to dream. He or she may be able to pantomime a whole scenario or merely tell you. Either way is fine to start.

Possible Ending:

What to say: "That was fun. Maybe next time we can act out the whole magic carpet ride."

What to do: Make sure that you carefully put away the magic carpet so that it is safe for the next ride.

Material on this site created by Helane S. Rosenberg, Ph.D. and Yakov M. Epstein, Ph.D. in conjunction with their forthcoming book titled Play for Success. All material on this site is copyrighted and may not be reproduced or cited without written permission of Helane S. Rosenberg, Ph.D.. Dr. Rosenberg is Associate Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education of Rutgers-The State University, New Brunswick, NJ. Dr. Epstein is Professor of Psychology in the Faculty of Arts and Science of Rutgers-The State University, New Brunswick, NJ. He is also Director of the Center for Mathematics, Science, and Computer Education of Rutgers University.

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