Tamra Raven is a documentary filmmaker and producer formerly based in NYC and now living in Los Angeles with her man, Aaron and daughter, Lulu. Tamra Raven and Lulu love to throw the noodles together and Take On The Creative!
"Lulu is two and just plain lovable. I love that she is very empathetic.
I love that she has a great imagination. I love that she likes to create things daily.
Okay, I will stop now. Aaah, I have become that parent that brags. But, you asked."
I love that she has a great imagination. I love that she likes to create things daily.
Okay, I will stop now. Aaah, I have become that parent that brags. But, you asked."
Tamra and Lulu
Tell us about your NOW (Noodle On The Wall) with your child?
Recently, Lulu and I painted a box together, decorated it with scraps of paper and added written activities inside (i.e. painting bird houses, doing each other’s nails, playing a musical instrument, visiting a friend, making a cake, making a doll, etc). Lulu shakes the box, picks out a card and then we do the activity. I have to admit, I initially did this for myself in case I ever got stuck for an activity to do after school.
Recently, Lulu and I painted a box together, decorated it with scraps of paper and added written activities inside (i.e. painting bird houses, doing each other’s nails, playing a musical instrument, visiting a friend, making a cake, making a doll, etc). Lulu shakes the box, picks out a card and then we do the activity. I have to admit, I initially did this for myself in case I ever got stuck for an activity to do after school.
Face Painting
One activity we recently picked out of our box was face painting. Aaron and I have noticed Lulu is remarkably patient when she’s getting her face painted at parties or fairs. So when she said she wanted to paint other people’s faces, I figured why not. I was her first subject (Grandma was next) and we were quickly adorned with rainbows, chickens, moons and dogs. Now I always have to remind myself when a delivery guy or mail person comes by that my face is covered is smears of pastel paint.
What role does creativity play in your home?
Seems to me like most kids love music and art, and Lulu is no different. We often try to have a “dance party” at least once a day. As a family, we dance around the home, play with musical instruments and sometimes have scarves or clothes for props. Surprisingly, Lulu's latest obsession is the “Blue Danube Waltz,” which she cranks full blast on our stereo and creates a very involved and dramatic ballet.
What role does creativity play in your home?
Seems to me like most kids love music and art, and Lulu is no different. We often try to have a “dance party” at least once a day. As a family, we dance around the home, play with musical instruments and sometimes have scarves or clothes for props. Surprisingly, Lulu's latest obsession is the “Blue Danube Waltz,” which she cranks full blast on our stereo and creates a very involved and dramatic ballet.
Lulu at dance class
What inspires you to take on the creative with your child?
Lulu really seems to thrive on new experiences. We often go out on adventures exploring museums, the zoo, the aquarium, every park we can find, beaches and so on. But when we’re just staying local, sometimes in the evening for example, instead of just going for a walk, we’ll go on a scavenger hunt. "Can we find a black dog, a pink flamingo figurine in our neighbors yard, a red car, a moon in the sky?" Sometimes, we carry Lulu's metal lunchbox and put things we find in it. Upon coming home, we get a piece of paper and glue all of our found objects, creating a collage together. It’s a fun way to end the day!
How do you nurture your child's creativity?
Aaron and I both try to encourage her to follow almost any idea she has. To wear three dresses at once, to paint everyone’s toenails, and of course, to explore storylines from her ever expanding imagination. Recently she’s decided that we have crocodiles in the house and that we need to politely escort them to the yard. We both get a kick out of seeing things her way.
Lulu goes to a great school during the day and she picks up a lot of ideas from her amazing teachers and friends. She’ll tell us what she did at school, which one day included reading to her classmates at “circle time." When she got home, she lined all her stuffed animals in small chairs, read a book to them and sang a song.
Lulu really seems to thrive on new experiences. We often go out on adventures exploring museums, the zoo, the aquarium, every park we can find, beaches and so on. But when we’re just staying local, sometimes in the evening for example, instead of just going for a walk, we’ll go on a scavenger hunt. "Can we find a black dog, a pink flamingo figurine in our neighbors yard, a red car, a moon in the sky?" Sometimes, we carry Lulu's metal lunchbox and put things we find in it. Upon coming home, we get a piece of paper and glue all of our found objects, creating a collage together. It’s a fun way to end the day!
How do you nurture your child's creativity?
Aaron and I both try to encourage her to follow almost any idea she has. To wear three dresses at once, to paint everyone’s toenails, and of course, to explore storylines from her ever expanding imagination. Recently she’s decided that we have crocodiles in the house and that we need to politely escort them to the yard. We both get a kick out of seeing things her way.
Lulu goes to a great school during the day and she picks up a lot of ideas from her amazing teachers and friends. She’ll tell us what she did at school, which one day included reading to her classmates at “circle time." When she got home, she lined all her stuffed animals in small chairs, read a book to them and sang a song.
Circle Time
What sticky noodles can you offer other Moms taking on the creative with their kids?
Be true to yourself and don’t torture yourself with worry about whether you’re doing it right or not.
I also feel that everyone has a talent of their own, so try and share that with your kid. Aaron plays his guitar and makes up spur-of-the-moment songs about nothing and Lulu loves it. She tries to tune his guitar, sits like him and imitates him playing. It’s pretty hilarious.
Be true to yourself and don’t torture yourself with worry about whether you’re doing it right or not.
I also feel that everyone has a talent of their own, so try and share that with your kid. Aaron plays his guitar and makes up spur-of-the-moment songs about nothing and Lulu loves it. She tries to tune his guitar, sits like him and imitates him playing. It’s pretty hilarious.
Lulu the Photographer
I love documenting life with my camera, so I taught her to use a camera with an old camera of mine. Her recent works include a series of photos from her car seat. They include her feet, the back of my head and her finger in front of the lens. I also love the series of her friends. Super-extreme close-ups of their faces because they all get really close to see her take a picture :)
Also, trying to be present and engaging helps to make things more fun. I try not to look at my cell phone constantly or be otherwise overly distracted. Lulu's taught me to stay more present. I probably have seen more butterflies in the last two years, than I have seen in my entire life.
Also, trying to be present and engaging helps to make things more fun. I try not to look at my cell phone constantly or be otherwise overly distracted. Lulu's taught me to stay more present. I probably have seen more butterflies in the last two years, than I have seen in my entire life.
What is your child's ideal noodle dish?
Fave foods include corn, avocado, tortillas and salmon. Though if she could, Lulu would have ice cream and mac & cheese every night. We also have fun making cupcakes or cakes for others. It’s an excuse for us to lick the bowl and it’s fun to surprise our friends with dessert.
Fave foods include corn, avocado, tortillas and salmon. Though if she could, Lulu would have ice cream and mac & cheese every night. We also have fun making cupcakes or cakes for others. It’s an excuse for us to lick the bowl and it’s fun to surprise our friends with dessert.
Tamra and Lulu on the job
In 2000, Tamara founded, Out of the Dirt Productions, a media company whose mission is to bring awareness to environmental, health and social issues.
"A documentary I directed under this umbrella, Rats To Roses, (about the plight of community gardens) was recently aired on the Sundance Channel as an episode of The Sierra Club Chronicles, produced by Robert Greenwald's company, Brave New Films."
Tamrave.com
"A documentary I directed under this umbrella, Rats To Roses, (about the plight of community gardens) was recently aired on the Sundance Channel as an episode of The Sierra Club Chronicles, produced by Robert Greenwald's company, Brave New Films."
Tamrave.com
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