Story Pieces & Five Suggestions

Anything might happen when the box of story pieces 

comes out of the buffet drawer. 

Using these tiny plastic characters to act out 

spontaneous stories always results in shared laughter. 

Will the horse take the flamingo for a ride?

Will the alligator and the pig be friends or foes?

Will the bucket-carrying girl trip over the hedgehog?

Story-loving grandkids want to know.

FIVE SUGGESTIONS

 for using your own box of Story Pieces: 

* A timer can be handy when one of the storytellers is ... 

long-winded. 

* Storytellers who are waiting for their turn must listen 

quietly to the current storyteller. Ask questions at the end, 

but do not interrupt the flow of the story.

* Keep interest high by rotating the story pieces. Look for 

new ones in toy stores, craft shops, and at second-hand sales. 

* Licking, biting, and/or eating the story pieces is frowned upon.

* Use the concept of chapters for older storytellers. Each player 

can continue the story using the same core characters.

More on hopeful stories here. 

 

Peeker Plan

So we were on  our way home from a last day of spring break trip to the movies. 

Jack the Giant Slayer. Great! Could we agree that within the genre of  fairy tale, the hokey

 is completely acceptable, and things  do not need to add up perfectly.

This is a relaxing quality, I think. 

A discussion began regarding theater bathroom stalls and just why are they so very small.  

Our conversation meandered from there onto some thin ice. 

Just what is the plan to deal with Theater Potty Peekers? 

No one in the vehicle had ever had to deal with an actual potty peeker, but I cautioned 

that  it might be wise to have a plan in place for such situations. 

For example - the accidental driving-off-a-bridge-over-water exit strategy. I hope you have yours nailed down. I'm a firm believer in leaving the vehicle BEFORE hitting any water. But a lot of talk went around the car about the advantages of exiting AFTER hitting the water, falling debris, water pressure, electronic reliability of window switches, and MythBusters. blahblahblahblah. Any scenario that involves drifting to the bottom of a river and waiting for the water to reach the roof inside the car while breathing calmly only proves that the right plan involves some serious air time. The men agreed to various plans which involve grabbing my belt and dragging me to safety. Heroic!

Back to the Peeker Plan. 

In the case of an Under Peeker - it's just common sense. 

But have you considered what you plan to do if you ever encounter an Over Peeker? Not many options for us ladies, right? You're already in a compromising position in which it is difficult to be any threat at all. Unless you would be able to potty while keeping a pepper spray in hand. Someone in the car pointed out how extremely paranoid that would actually be.

Of course, I laughed and agreed, but I'm secretly relieved to have my plan for Under and Over Peekers now firmly in place. EXTREME SCREAMING - that's the go-to plan for  defeating Over Peekers.  

Unless you happen to have your pepper spray handy. 

Or if you're a guy.

I did spare you from the Guy Plan For Dealing With Over Peekers ...