Hands-On -- Do It, Say It
Children's traditional culture is largely interactive. Throughout childhood and into adolescence, hands-on activities are an important part of being a child. Some of these traditions are passed on from adult to child, but most are taught from child to child. This year during the Great Lakes Folk Festival, the focus of the Children's Area will be on hands-on activities that children can enjoy with their adult companions.
Basketweaving
The tradition of basketweaving is a long one in Native American cultures. Based on knowledge and skills passed on from generation to generation, weaving baskets is a way for Native peoples to learn about and share plant ecology, art, and values important to their cultures. The activities at GLFF this year are adapted from ones done at the "Carriers of Culture: Living Native Basket Traditions" program, coordinated by the MSU Museum at the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.
Jump Rope
Jumping rope and chanting jump rope rhymes are perfect examples of participating in folk games that also have an oral tradition. Try your hand at jumping (and if you're really good, you can try Double Dutch). When you're finished, share a jump rope rhyme that you know.
Puppets
Master puppeteers will be featured at this year's GLFF. In the Children's Area you can use a paper lunch sack (or even a sock) to make a puppet. When you're finished, put on a puppet show or have it tell a story to your audience.
Friendship Bracelets
Making friendship bracelets has been a part of children's traditional culture and both the bracelet design and the bracelet itself is passed on from child to child. While at the children's area, you can make bracelets to give to all of your friends at home.
Hopscotch
Hopscotch is another hands-on activity that is often passed from child to child. While you will not be able to draw your own hopscotch squares, you will be able to use our various hopscotch courts to play your own version of the game.
Join us for all these and other hands-on activities at this year's Children's Area.
The Children's Folk Activities Area is located TO THE WEST OF THE VALLEY COURT STAGE and runs from noon to 6:00 P.M. Saturday and Sunday.
Children's Traditional Culture
Even in infancy children begin participating in and learning traditional games such as peek-a-boo and patty-cake. Throughout childhood and adolescence they participate in traditional learning songs, rhymes, sayings, puzzles, rituals, customs and games with their peers, older youth, and adults. Although adults are clearly important teachers of all knowledge for children, much of children's traditions are passed on continuously from child to child; children are both the teachers and the learners. By the time children enter school they are already skilled in a wide realm of knowledge areas.
