Conversations That Feed the Heart

Conversations of the heart are important. They bring us closer to the deeper feelings we have inside that drive us. And, they bring us closer to the things we are thinking about or are truly joyous about. In our busy world, having these kinds of special conversations is important and one of the main reasons we created our StoryPlay Cards.

Our StoryPlay Cards were designed as a multi-purpose deck so kids wouldn't get bored with them. You can use them as storytelling cards. You can use them to play card games. And you can use them to start conversations of the heart. Here is how it works.

Spread out some StoryPlay Cards face up. You can spread all of them or just 20 random ones. Take a moment to pick the one that says, "This is me right now!" Maybe it's the Path, Sword, Gift, or even the Shadow. Whatever it is, it is saying something that is important to you. We are driven by forces inside us and it's good now and again to look at and even dialogue about these things.

Last month, my daughter and I sat down and did this little card choosing with some close friends and their kids. I chose the Cocoon because I had just finished a long project that was exhausting and I needed a little inward time. We all went around and heard about the card that we picked. What is so precious about this is that we each got to know a little bit more about each other and it brought us closer.

Our world is indeed on the fast track of change and getting together with others to share in laughter, creativity and personal insight is a good thing.

Think-ets and StoryPlay Cards as Writing Prompts

Sometimes it just takes a little thing to get us motivated. A word said. A gesture made. Or even a miniature given. Teachers have found that using tactile objects or illustrated cards are a wonderful way to get kids out of their inertia and into a whole world of their imaginations--and Think-ets and StoryPlay Cards have been a fun way to get kids thinking and then writing.

Teachers love having these two classroom tools in their classroom because of how they can spark their imaginations and get them going on writing a story. Writing can sometimes be a tedious job when you just can't think about what to write about. Most of us have had writer's block. But having a little story prompt, like a Think-ets trinket or a StoryPlay Card, can launch kids into the unknown and get them writing.

How does it work? Theoretically, it works because we are often motivated by something that triggers not only our minds but also our hearts. Emotion is a great driver for a story. When kids connect with a Think-ets trinkets or StoryPlay Card, they do so because they love what they choose because it has some meaning for them. It connect with something in their emotional worlds. And then, they can begin to write about something meaningful to them.

Practically, it works like this. Lay out your set of Think-ets trinkets or StoryPlay Cards and have kids pick one that they like. If you have time, get them to talk in pairs with a partner about why they picked the object or card and what it reminded them of. Many kids love having time to talk about it with someone else before they get started. It further fuels their creative juices.

Parents who want their kids to be more imaginative love these tools. And, it works equally as well for adults as with kids, though adults may prefer the StoryPlay Cards to miniatures.

We all know the power that imagination has on our lives. It creates new ideas, new products, new jobs, even whole new industries. It can also combat boredom and help in resolving conflicts. But perhaps best of all, it creates tons of fun.