I am currently abroad for a year with my husband visiting his family. I was asked to look after his two nieces for the 4 weeks of the summer holidays (january), basicaly beacuse they are quite difficult. I am a special neeeds teacher with specialism in drama and art and I am struggling!!
I am nearly at the end of week one, the 5yo has lots of behavioural problems, wich are taxing but we are working through them, however the 9yo girl simply doesnt have any creativity or urge to play anything. I have tried many differnt types of art activitives and at the first hurdle she gives up. I have managed to get her to use stencils and that is the limit.
and playing games is the worst she has simply no imaginative play have tried, dress up, making dens, water play, puppets, board games, charades etc etc. She is not going through any moody pre-teen stage but genuinly cannot play. if i am not directing the activity she becomes bored and disinterested. however if I am guiding he imaginative play she stays engaged. she desnt not play by herself and just sits on the sofa if left to her own devices.
Need some help, ideas beacuse I am running out of them!