- Decorating a Child’s Room
with a Cheap, Easy Space Theme
- by Joey Lewitin
Most children have an inherent
fascination with space. It is that massive place above their
heads that goes on forever. Tiny points of light shine out of
the great dark, making imaginary pictures in the air above their
heads. Then, as they learn and grow, they realize those points
of light are immense explosions, shooting fiery chunks of elements
out into the void, only to, sometimes, have them swing back around
the flaming star in a circle, and slowly begin to form a planet.
The cosmos provides such a wide
range of exciting ideas that it is a natural topic to encourage
your child to explore. One way to do this is to involve them
in a project to decorate their room based on an outer space theme.
Together you can research astronomy, and perhaps develop a genuine
interest for science in the child. At the same time, you can
hold their attention by creatively selecting the most interesting
aspects of this far reaching subject, or simply garnishing your
research with aliens and space battles.
|
The intuitive first step for
creating a space themed room is to paint the area black. Unfortunately
this will have the effect of making the room feel smaller, hotter,
and gloomier. Instead, use darkness and light to create the appearance
of the blackness of space.
An inexpensive example of this
method is to use stars that glow-in-the-dark. Scatter them across
the ceiling and walls to create a mini-galaxy. You can take this
a step further using glow-in-the-dark-paint. Trace an outline
of the object you want to make on the material of your choice,
and then cut it out. Paint the object carefully with the iridescent
substance. If you are applying the paint directly to the wall,
you may want to use tape along the outlines to avoid a mistake.
You can attach your materials using thumb tacks or double sided
tape.
This method can be used with
regular paint to create a daytime galaxy. A mixture of the two
however can provide a very interesting look, allowing you to
have two different decorative schemes, depending on whether the
lights are on or off. You should of course, be careful to monitor
the effect glow-in-the-dark materials in the room have on the
child’s sleep habits. |
|
Planets and comets can be built
using Styrofoam balls, easily purchased at any craft store. Research
the size and appearance of the various planets with your child
before purchasing materials. Make a scale of the different planets,
which will determine how big your Styrofoam balls should be in
relation to one another. Bookmark pictures of the various planets
you want to create, and use them as a reference when coloring
the Styrofoam. As you learn more about planets, engage the child’s
imagination by talking about what it must be like on those strange
worlds, and what the people living there would be like. Try and
get them to ask questions, and help them find the answers in
various reference materials.
When placing the planets, use
your research to place them in correct relation to one another.
If you have a ceiling light you can use this as a sort of sun.
Otherwise, you can cut a round piece of cardboard, painted either
with glow-in-the-dark or reflective paint, and tape this to the
ceiling. A sun will allow you to create orbits around it, for
the various planets.
To turn the child’s bed
into a space ship, purchase a piece of cardboard that is large
enough to cover the long side of their bed. You may have to use
two pieces to a side if you can’t find a piece that is big
enough by itself. Trace the outline of a spaceship onto the cardboard
and then cut it out with a scissor or exact-o knife. Paint the
proper colors onto the outline, wait for them to dry, and then
attach them to the sides of the child’s bed with tape or
thumbtacks. Look in books and articles for ideas about what would
be found in a real spaceship, and then create panels and screens
using the same method. Wings and joysticks are also a nice effect.
If you find your child is getting
bored with all of the research, you can spice your activities
by exploring the science fiction aspects of outer space. The
best science fiction is based on real science, and this is one
way to encourage an interest in the knowledge that we have about
outer space, and in science itself. You can explore the ideas
of aliens by looking at what we know of other planets, and imagining
what kind of alien would live on that world. A space battle can
be a way to discuss the physics of what an explosion would look
like in outer space. There is really no limit to the ways you
can engage your child’s interest in this field.
Children should not try any of
these ideas out themselves without the consent and supervision
of an adult. Caution should always be used in any activity that
involves a child. Make certain that none of your decorative efforts
causes any damage to the child’s safety.
|
