💡 The big idea
When we make something together, three things are true at the same time:
✏️
MY idea
Something I thought of and added. That part is mine.
💬
YOUR idea
Something you thought of and added. That part is yours.
🎨
OUR thing
What we made together. It belongs to both of us — and we both get credit.
Why this matters on screens:
When children share videos, photos, stories, or drawings online — they will remix and build on other people's work. Knowing that ideas come from someone and that person deserves credit is the foundation for all of that.
When children share videos, photos, stories, or drawings online — they will remix and build on other people's work. Knowing that ideas come from someone and that person deserves credit is the foundation for all of that.
🛒 What you'll need
- One piece of paper
- Crayons or markers
- Stickers for the reward
No paper? Use a whiteboard, a sidewalk, or just take turns building a story out loud.
🎮 How to play
- Put one piece of paper between you. Say: "We're going to make something together. I'll start." Draw or write one thing — a shape, a character, a single line of a story. Anything.
- Pass it to your child and say: "Now you add something." Let them add whatever they want without guidance. Accept it.
- Take turns adding to it — 3 or 4 rounds each. No corrections. Every addition counts.
- When you're done, look at it together and ask: "Whose idea was the [sun / robot / squiggly line]?" Name each piece: "That part was yours. That part was mine."
- Ask: "What do we call this thing we made?" Let them name it. Write the name at the top. Then write both your names underneath.
The credit line — say it together
"Made by [child's name] and [your name]."
The key question to ask: "If someone else wanted to use our drawing — what would you want them to say?"
Most children at this age will say some version of "say it was ours" or "tell people we made it."
That instinct is exactly right. Name it: "That's called giving credit. It means saying who made something."
The Co-Creator Sticker
Give a sticker when your child names who contributed what — either during the activity or any time after, without prompting. "That was your idea" said spontaneously is the skill landing.
🌱 Signs it's working
- Your child says "we made this" instead of "I made this" when both contributed.
- They name whose idea was whose without being asked.
- They ask before changing or adding to something someone else started.
- They understand that sharing a drawing someone else made is fine — but saying you drew it is not.
Next step at ages 7–9: This grows into "when I remix, I name the original" — the next creative-making skill in the DCC Kids sequence.