Rhonda Fleischer and her amazing family from Nyack , New York are under the Noodle Spotlight! But these days, Rhonda can be found Taking On The Creative with her two children in Africa. Yup, that's right! With the help of her husband Michael, Rhonda encourages not only a life full of creativity but also a life dedicated to awareness, giving, adventure and inspiration.
I have never assumed that my kids "just can't understand." I've always made an effort to find a simple way of explaining big, complex things so that they can feel a part of my world, as much as I am a part of theirs. Now that we live in Kenya, with me spending so much time in the field of refugee resettlement, they know that there's a country called "Somalia" where people have been fighting for a long time and that some have run away from the fighting. My kids know it's serious, but they're not scared - just very happy to be included in my life. And, then they incorporate it all into their play.
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On The Wall) with your children.
With limited time for creative projects in their own right, we try to weave creativity into the everyday as much as possible. Back in New York when we had a series of boring errands to get through, I started out our morning with the creation of a "clue book." We'd pick about 6 or 7 things they'd have to find - a "Y" shaped stick, a caterpillar, a robin, a fire truck, etc. Each thing would get its own page in the clue book. They'd draw and color the pictures (one per page). Then, as we went driving around the streets or wandering into shopping malls, they'd happily go about the day, searching for the things in their clue book and checking off each thing they spotted.
It's especially amusing for me to transfer the "clue book" idea to Nairobi. Last week we had another errand-filled day. So, we made our first Nairobicized clue book with pictures to be spotted that included a person carrying a basket on their head, a bicycle hauling a huge bundle of something on the back, a hornbill bird, a baby wrapped on a child's back, etc.
What role does creativity play in your home?
Creativity is central to many of our conversations and the cornerstone
of our lives. As a creative person myself and having been in theatre,
dance, art, crafts, and always wanting to bring a flare to make life
interesting, keeping creativity alive and well in our home keeps me
feeling inspired personally and as a mother. My 7 year old son now
writes his own story books on a regular basis, and my daughter would
much rather be teaching us her new dance moves than just about
anything else. Together, they can spend hours on end wrapped up in a
game of “restaurant” or “cheetah." Just about anything from their
lives becomes fodder for creative expression.
With limited time for creative projects in their own right, we try to weave creativity into the everyday as much as possible. Back in New York when we had a series of boring errands to get through, I started out our morning with the creation of a "clue book." We'd pick about 6 or 7 things they'd have to find - a "Y" shaped stick, a caterpillar, a robin, a fire truck, etc. Each thing would get its own page in the clue book. They'd draw and color the pictures (one per page). Then, as we went driving around the streets or wandering into shopping malls, they'd happily go about the day, searching for the things in their clue book and checking off each thing they spotted.
It's especially amusing for me to transfer the "clue book" idea to Nairobi. Last week we had another errand-filled day. So, we made our first Nairobicized clue book with pictures to be spotted that included a person carrying a basket on their head, a bicycle hauling a huge bundle of something on the back, a hornbill bird, a baby wrapped on a child's back, etc.
What role does creativity play in your home?
Creativity is central to many of our conversations and the cornerstone
of our lives. As a creative person myself and having been in theatre,
dance, art, crafts, and always wanting to bring a flare to make life
interesting, keeping creativity alive and well in our home keeps me
feeling inspired personally and as a mother. My 7 year old son now
writes his own story books on a regular basis, and my daughter would
much rather be teaching us her new dance moves than just about
anything else. Together, they can spend hours on end wrapped up in a
game of “restaurant” or “cheetah." Just about anything from their
lives becomes fodder for creative expression.
What inspires you to take on the creative with your kids?
When I want to find a way to connect with my kids, I find inspiration to be creative. It keeps our time together fun for everyone involved, and it makes the everyday more fun and magical.
When I want to find a way to connect with my kids, I find inspiration to be creative. It keeps our time together fun for everyone involved, and it makes the everyday more fun and magical.
How do you nurture your child's creativity?
They have never been TV watchers, and I've always believed strongly that I didn't want to fill in the empty space for them with pre-fab amusements - that I'm short-circuiting a naturally inquisitive, creative process that kids are wired to initiate. When my son complains about being bored (which doesn't happen all that often), I've told him, "when you're bored it means something good is just around the corner." I honestly believe that leaving them to their own devices has forced them to get creative. Given that we left the majority of their toys stored away in the U.S., its been especially handy. They'd much prefer to make a "cash register" out of a cardboard box than have a plastic store-bought one that just sits around getting dusty anyway.
They have never been TV watchers, and I've always believed strongly that I didn't want to fill in the empty space for them with pre-fab amusements - that I'm short-circuiting a naturally inquisitive, creative process that kids are wired to initiate. When my son complains about being bored (which doesn't happen all that often), I've told him, "when you're bored it means something good is just around the corner." I honestly believe that leaving them to their own devices has forced them to get creative. Given that we left the majority of their toys stored away in the U.S., its been especially handy. They'd much prefer to make a "cash register" out of a cardboard box than have a plastic store-bought one that just sits around getting dusty anyway.
What sticky noodles can you offer other Moms taking on the creative with their kids?
You don't need to paint a mural with your children to be creative. Just about anything can be creative. It's about how present you are in the things you ARE doing with your kids and how playful you can make the small moments. Tonight when my daughter lay on the floor, refusing to take a bath, I sang her "Ruby Tuesday" song at the top of my lungs like a Broadway singer. It broke the tension - she laughed, and then happily joined me in a duet on the way to the shower.
You don't need to paint a mural with your children to be creative. Just about anything can be creative. It's about how present you are in the things you ARE doing with your kids and how playful you can make the small moments. Tonight when my daughter lay on the floor, refusing to take a bath, I sang her "Ruby Tuesday" song at the top of my lungs like a Broadway singer. It broke the tension - she laughed, and then happily joined me in a duet on the way to the shower.
What is your child's ideal noodle dish?
Lots of time with me - especially doing a craft project with my undivided attention.
Lots of time with me - especially doing a craft project with my undivided attention.
Check out their creative adventures in Africa on their BLOG
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