Category: The Kingdom Chronicle

A family activity does not have to involve tickets, travelling or a long shopping list. Put some paper and colouring materials on the table and you have the beginnings of a shared adventure.

This simple Sam’s Kingdom activity is designed for mixed ages. Everyone can take part in a different way, and nobody needs to be “good at art”. Set aside a little time that suits your household, with no requirement to finish.

Choose your kingdom together

Start with a question: “If we built a kingdom together, what would it be like?” It might have a library guarded by a dragon, a forest of enormous flowers or a castle where the dogs are in charge. Write down the ideas or let someone draw the first landmark.

Use one large sheet for a shared map, or give each person their own page. Separate pages can work better when people have different ideas or prefer more space.

Give everyone a part they enjoy

• A younger child might choose colours or make broad marks for grass and sky.
• Someone who enjoys detail could design a gate, a coat of arms or a patterned roof.
• A storyteller can name the characters and describe what happens next.
• An adult can draw alongside the family or write down a story that someone dictates.

These roles are suggestions, not rules. Ask before adding to another person’s picture. Joining in can mean watching and chatting rather than drawing.

Make conversation easy

A shared picture gives you something to talk about without needing a long list of questions. Try “I wonder who lives here” or “What should we call this place?” Then allow time for an answer. Silence is welcome too; some people prefer simply working alongside each other.

If someone dislikes a mark they have made, offer choices: turn it into something else, try a fresh sheet or carry on. You do not need to fix their picture for them.

Finish with a tiny exhibition

Invite each person to share one detail they like, if they wish. Ask permission before displaying or sharing their work. A folder for unfinished pictures can make it easy to return to the kingdom another day.

You could add a new landmark next week, invent a short story about a character or swap between colouring, building and outdoor adventures. The activity can grow with your family’s interests.

Keep it comfortable and manageable

Choose suitable materials, leave enough elbow room and make stopping easy. A short, pleasant session is enough. The aim is time spent making and imagining together, rather than a perfect display or another task to complete.

For more family play ideas, explore UNICEF Parenting’s Playbox. For an introduction to colouring and mark making, read Why colouring deserves a place in your child’s day.

A cushion becomes a castle wall. A drawing becomes a treasure map. A cardboard box becomes a dragon’s home. Imaginative play gives children room to ask “what if?” and try out their own ideas using ordinary things.

You do not need an elaborate set or a full afternoon. A small invitation can be enough to start an adventure, and your child can decide where it goes.

What children can explore through play

UNICEF’s guidance on early childhood play describes opportunities to practise problem solving, communication and creative expression. A make-believe adventure offers everyday ways to explore these: deciding how a character crosses a river, explaining a plan or changing the story when something unexpected happens.

These are opportunities, rather than guaranteed results from any particular toy or game. The activity should still be enjoyable in its own right.

Begin with a problem worth imagining

Try this Sam’s Kingdom story starter: “A friendly dragon has lost the way home. What could we make to help?” Offer paper and crayons, or let your child use suitable toys they already have. They might draw a signpost, build a shelter or invent a flying guide. There is no answer sheet.

If they want a little help, ask one question at a time. “Where does the dragon live?” usually leaves more space for an idea than giving them a complete plot to follow.

Share the story without taking charge

Let your child choose your role. You might be the traveller asking for directions or the keeper of a very sleepy dragon. Follow their lead where possible. If several people are playing, help them agree how to share materials and make space for each person’s suggestion.

A child who prefers watching, drawing or narrating can join in that way. Pretending with voices or dressing up is optional.

Three easy kingdom adventures

• The missing flag: design a new flag and explain what its colours mean.
• The bridge challenge: use age-appropriate building toys to make a crossing for a toy character. What could you change if it falls?
• The kind knight: invent a quest solved by helping someone rather than fighting.

Leave room for their ending

The treasure may turn out to be biscuits, the dragon may become the mayor and the knight may decide to open a bakery. Changing direction is part of making a story together. You can ask whether your child would like to draw the ending or return to it another day.

Choose safe materials and a comfortable space. The most useful starting point is often simple: a little attention, a few familiar objects and permission to imagine.

Further reading: UNICEF Parenting: The science of play.

A dragon can be green, purple or every colour in the pencil tin. That small freedom is part of what makes colouring enjoyable: children get to make something their own, with no score to beat and no single correct answer.

At Sam’s Kingdom, a colouring page is an invitation to explore. Here are some ways to make the most of it at home, whether your child enjoys a few bold marks or a page full of tiny details.

A chance to practise making marks

Moving a crayon across paper gives children practice with the movements involved in drawing and pencil control. NHS children’s services describe mark making as part of the preparation for writing and encourage time for scribbling, colouring and exploring colour. This is practice through enjoyment, rather than a race to produce neat handwriting.

Let the colours belong to the child

Try offering a choice of pictures and letting your child decide where to begin. A pink castle or a rainbow knight can be the start of a story. Instead of correcting an unexpected colour, ask an open question such as, “What happens in this castle?” They may have an explanation, or they may simply like pink. Both are fine.

Make the activity fit the moment

For a child who enjoys sweeping movements, choose a picture with large spaces or offer blank paper. Someone who likes detail might prefer patterns, textures or a more intricate scene. Age labels can be a starting point, but interest and comfort matter too. A simpler page is always a valid choice.

Keep materials within easy reach, protect the table and choose age-appropriate supplies. If your child wants to stop after a few minutes, leave the page for another day. Finishing every space is not the purpose.

Try a royal colour quest

1. Choose a character and give them a name.
2. Pick three colours for their kingdom.
3. Add one new detail: a flag, a pet or a secret doorway.
4. Invite your child to tell you about it, if they want to.

Notice the choices, not just the neatness

“You tried two different blues” notices an experiment. “Tell me about that dragon” invites conversation. You can also sit alongside and colour your own picture, without taking over theirs. The page does not need to become a competition or a lesson.

A few crayons and an interesting picture are enough to begin. Leave room for scribbles, changing plans and unfinished adventures: those can belong in a creative kingdom too.

Further reading: NHS children’s health: Getting ready to write.