Let's Go Doling in the Clouds!

Remember lying on our backs on a warm summer day, looking up at the clouds, seeing birds, dogs, and all sorts of unnamed creatures? Calling them out to our friends who had to find them; “I see a cat! I see an airplane!”.

Merriam-Webster defines “pareidolia” as the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern (1). Pareidolia, which sounds like pear-eye-dol-E-ah, is a natural phenomenon. If you’ve ever spied an elephant in a cloud, found a rock that looked like a heart, or felt the eyes of an old elf looking at you from the bark of tree, you’ve experienced it. You've been pareidoling, "doling", for short. 

This activity, children’s photobook, is designed to encourage imagination, develop fine motor skills, and most importantly, see beauty and magic all around us. 

Each book comes with a clear sheet and an dry erase marker. Opening the book reveals a natural cloud formation, not an artificial intelligence generated image, and a clue to the treasures hidden within. Solve the clue, place the clear sheet over the photo, and search the clouds for the hidden gem. When you find it, outline it with the marker, then flip the page over and see how you did. You might even find other treasures hiding in the clouds. Once you’re done, simply wipe off the sheet and move on to the next adventure.

So put away the videos, electronic games, and cell phones. Bolster imaginations, encourage creativity, and let the magic flow, while drawing out the child nestled in us all to play along. Let's go doling!

1.    “Pareidolia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pareidolia. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.