This Harry Potter Remembrall activity is a fun way to help your child develop and explore a positive mindset and the skill of keeping positive thoughts.
The Remembrall incident in Harry Potter is another one of those iconic moments in the story. It showed Harry’s true character as someone loyal to his friends to no end when he stood up to Malfoy. It also initiated his career in the wizarding game, Quidditch and cemented all of the characters into their personalities.
This scene also acts as Harry’s entry into morals and rule-breaking, a topic that gets debated frequently. But Harry doesn’t break the rules just to break them, *cough* Malfoy *cough*; he does it to stand up for his friends or what is ‘right’ in the grand scheme of things.
There is more to this scene than meets the eye though. The flying chase that ensued between Harry and Malfoy helped Harry feel a sense of belonging, for the first time in his life, telling him that he is exactly where he is meant to be; which is something he questioned.
This is a moment that finally gives Harry some hope and foundation and a positive outlook. That is why we are going to use the Remembrall as our own source of positivity and foundation for growth.
Harry Potter Remembrall Activity for Positive Mindset
Most kids love big messy projects! Remember paper mache as a kid? Most of us loved it! This activity not only teaches emotional intelligence but is a sensory experience as well! Engaging in sensory play helps to build language and motor skills (even school-aged kids still need this!) thanks to the nerve connections being made.
And if your kid does not like messy projects, or gets overwhelmed with sensory experiences, no problem! You can do the yarn part with or for them. What a great opportunity for more connection! This allows you to model what sensory play can look like and create a non-pressured, non-vocalized invitation for them to engage when they are ready.
Supplies:
- Red, White, or Gray yarn
- Glue – at least 1 bottle per child
- Scissors
- Thumbtack
- Small balloons – we used 5-inch balloons
- Saran wrap
- String
- Remembrall Ribbons Printable (get it below!)
- Pens or pencils
- A strip of gold ribbon (⅛ – ¼ in thick – Optional)
Instructions:
1. Pour a generous amount of glue into a shallow dish or bowl. Cut the yarn into strips about 8-12 inches long and submerge them in the glue completely.
2. Blow up a small balloon just big enough for it to keep a round shape. Wrap it with saran wrap with the opening of the saran wrap at the knot of the balloon.
* Note: You will see in my pictures that I tried to do it without the saran wrap. This is how I remember doing it as a kid, but it did not work. As the balloon shrank, it collapsed the yarn ball as well. I have heard people use oil on the balloon also to keep the yarn from gluing to the balloon, but I have not tested this out. Let me know in the comments if you try it and how it works for you!
3. Tie a piece of string around the knot of the balloon. This will be used to suspend the balloon while you put the strips of yarn on. You can either use a piece of strong duct tape to secure the free end of the string holding the balloon as it hangs over the edge of a kitchen island or countertop. Or you can tie the free end of the string to a hangar and hang it from a shower or closet rod as it dries and hardens.
4. As the balloon dangles, pick up one of the strips of yarn from the glue bowl with one hand and use your index finger and thumb of the other hand to gently pinch the yarn while you slide down, squeezing out excess glue back into the bowl. You do not want to wring it out completely as there will not be enough glue to hold the ball and keep its strength.
You also want to make sure not to leave it with too much glue either. That would make the ball heavy and it will also collapse from the weight. There is a middle ground and it becomes easy to tell as you get started.
5. Once you have squeezed any excess glue from the yarn strip, you will gently drape it over and around the balloon. You will repeat both the last step and this one over and over until the balloon is covered enough that the gaps between the threads of yarn are small enough that a paper ribbon (printable) won’t slip out on its own, but also big enough to put a ribbon in (tips on how to get the ribbon in, below). Once you get a good foundation by laying a few strips of yarn in the same direction, make sure to lay some in different directions as well so they kind of weave together. Let the balloon hang to dry overnight.
6. The next day use small scissors to puncture the balloon. After it deflates, pull the balloon and saran wrap out through one of the holes. Tweezers may come in handy here.
7. Cut out the ribbons from the printable. Invite the child to write or draw a favorite memory on each one. If they do not want to write it, you can do it for them. This can be even more fun listening to them reminisce.
8. Roll each ribbon up with the writing/drawing side facing out so it can be seen. Then place each ribbon in the ball through one of the holes left by the yarn.
9. Hang it up somewhere for your child to see it often. In their bedroom or in their cool-down corner, if they have one, would be a good place. After you are done with it, you can easily turn it into an ornament.
If you choose to add the gold ribbon around the outside, the end is the perfect time to do that. Simply measure out and cut the amount of ribbon that will fit around the ball and glue both ends, as well as several spots in between, to the yarn underneath. Viola!
You could also use this as an actual memory-assisting tool too! If your child struggles with remembering their tasks or goals or has trouble with executive functioning; you could use this and fill it up each day/week/etc with things to accomplish and pull out the slips of paper as they are completed. When it’s empty, they know they completed everything necessary. When it still has paper, it means there is still stuff to accomplish.
If your kiddos are enjoying learning about themselves while exploring the magical world of witchcraft & wizardry, and they want more, you can grab all 8 of our Harry Potter mindfulness printables for just $1.29!
(If you just want the free file, feel free to go to the individual posts to grab to grab them. It will ask you to enter in your information for each activity printable, but don’t worry, I won’t send you duplicate emails.)
Social Emotional Learning Behind the Harry Potter Remembrall Activity
Recalling happy memories reduces things like cortisol, a stress hormone. Many studies, like this one, or research like this, show the benefits of positive thinking and happy memory recollection, and why it is so very important for our health.
Stress is linked to many issues with mental health as well as overall physical health. So it’s pretty easy to see how important it is to learn to see that stress and find a way to dilute it or work through it.
That’s exactly why I created this activity. To give children a fun, engaging, and lasting way to use a well-known tool for releasing stress…positive mindset and positive thoughts!
Keeping a positive outlook and taking time to review your great memories and all you have to be thankful for, go a long way in life and help you make it through the harder times in life. It also builds resiliency. Taking this opportunity to teach about a positive mindset can be easy, impactful, and lasting when it’s fun!
Empowering your kids to find the light in the world can change the world and even save their lives. As the wise Dumbledore once said, “But you know, happiness can be found in even the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light”.
Check out these other Harry Potter Social Emotional Learning Activities:
- Harry Potter Crest Activity – Self-Affirmation
- Harry Potter Sorting Hat Activity – Character Building / Self Acceptance
- Harry Potter Transfiguration Activity – Flexible Thinking & Growth Mindset
- Harry Potter Boggart Activity – Facing Fear & Defeating Worry
- Harry Potter Mirror of Erised Activity – Achieving Goals / Tenacity
- Harry Potter Marauder’s Map Activity – Self Care / Authenticity / Safety
- Harry Potter Defeat Voldemort Activity – Confidence / Defeating Fear