We’ve got a million toys… but junior is bored. Or we’re waiting at the doctor’s office and there’s nothing to do. Remember connect-the-dots, a standby of children’s workbooks? Here are variations on that theme. You and your child can do these ideas with just pencil and paper:

Dotty Storytelling

Parent makes dots on the paper. Ask the child to connect the dots, any way they wish. Discuss the result. What could it be? Like cloud-watching, invite your child to make up stories. You could tie in aspects of your child’s experience and interests, and dress it up with ridiculousness. For example, “This looks like your stomachache! What do you think?” Make more dots as needed.

Dotty Teachers

Child makes the dots. Child numbers the dots. Child instructs the parent on how to do the homework. Parent completes the homework, and makes sure to make obvious mistakes. Parent feigns ignorance and surprise. Child looks over the work and makes a checkmark on the paper.  For example: “Would you like to be a Connect-the-Dot teacher? You can make homework for me to do.”

Dotty Map or Game Board

Draw circles instead of dots. Invite your child to draw things inside them, such as favorite people, places, or things. Suggest that she draw roads to connect them, or chutes and ladders. Recommend (or add them yourself) elements that help or hinder, such as lucky wishing wells or sticky gum on the sidewalk or traffic lights. Arrows are a perennial favorite with my son. Discuss the cardinal directions. Inquire: “If you go off the edge of this paper, where do you go?” Also, ask your child what is the name of this land. With fanfare, christen it so. Voilà, you have a game board. Pull out a penny and a nickel and your little one can start cruisin’ around.

And if you have markers, your child has now made an original piece to color in…

Dotty Abstract Art

Sometimes just plain old coloring is delightful. Here’s a detail of a piece that my son and I worked on together. We simply took turns making dots, connecting the dots, and coloring in.