INTRODUCE HAND SHADOWS TO BE A PART OF YOUR CHILD'S PLAY TIME

 

 

In the olden days, when no invertors, emergency lamps, mobile torches, or battery torches doesn’t exist. The only savior to provide light when the power goes off is a candle, mud lamp, or lantern where the light glows with the help of a wick and kerosene.

Children in the household find joy in the darkness by playing with a candlelight casting shadows on the wall with hands

You should have observed the shadow's size decrease when you moved the object farther from the light source and increase when you moved it closer. You block a much larger portion of the light from the source when your object is closer, which increases the size of the shadow.

In later days, this play has become an art form. Hand shadows are an ancient form of puppetry (perhaps predating all other forms) in which the puppeteer uses his or her hands to cast shadows of animals, people, and objects onto a flat surface.

 Shadowgraphy or ombromanie is the art of performing a story or show using images made by hand shadows. It can be called "cinema in silhouette". Performers are titled as shadowgraphists or shadowgraphers. It can be traced back to the 18th Century, although the idea is probably much older.

Hand Shadows [Also called Ombromanie] a shadow theatre technique using the hands of the actor. This can be accompanied with or without accessories made of cardboard, zinc cut-outs, or other objects. Following the position of the hands, characters or animals appear on the screen.

These are ideal for children and create a lot of fun.

By playing with light and shadows, children develop their spatial awareness, learning about shapes, sizes, and dimensions. They also learn about cause and effect, discovering how moving an object in front of a light source changes the shadow it creates.

Let this be a part of your child’s games.

Hold your hand at a distance from the light, near the wall, where it will cast a small, clear shadow. Ask children to describe what they see. Talk about what makes the shadow.

A bedside lamp or table lamp works perfectly. Put one hand between the light and the wall so that you can clearly see the shadow of your hand. Then, simply by changing the shape of your hand, you can make animals, birds, and other characters come to life.

 The benefits of light and shadow play go beyond just creativity. They also help children develop important skills that will serve them well in the future.

Check here to learn how to make hand shadows with your child and related books and videos 

(This blogpost is a part of Blogchatter's Bloghop. https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogchatter-blog-hop-a-new-way-to-write-collectively)