I was having a great conversation on the 4th of July with few friends about how much our kids enjoy and need play. Summer seems to be the perfect time for reuniting with some of the kinds of play that (sadly) our kids miss out on during the busy school- homework-after-school activity- dinner and bed routine. We were sharing that each of our kids has come back to creating or pretending with toys that they "used" to play with. One little girl(8) and a friend have been coming back to pretend play and created a restaurant (with menus and service including a wide variety of cereals) in her basement this summer. Another little boy started playing more intently with the geotracks he received when he was 2. Now as a 5 year old, he gets lost in his play with them. Finally, I shared a bit about my now 10 year old son who has rekindled his love of Legos after having time to just play and spend time at home with his brothers. He asked for Star Wars Legos for his birthday yesterday and the family responded. He spent a few hours constructing the 3 kits he received only then to ask for more. We reflected on a few things after sharing. First, we thought about how we could have rushed our kids into toys that they weren't quite ready for...Second, we thought about how wonderful it is in the summer when we have more time to slow down and give our kids the time they deserve for play. Lastly, we can't help but enjoy observing the cooperation, thinking and creating that brings my kids the happy rewards of play.
The photo is one of our many adventures this summer. We spent time playing in the Scioto River last week.
5 comments:
Happy to read your post today. Much more uplifting than what I wrote today about Kindergarten Summer School. Very sad state of affairs there!
This is great, Katie! Kids and adults both need to play a little more away from distractions.
Side note -- where at the Scioto did you go?
Karen-
We went down to Scioto Park where the Leather Lips sculpture sits. Very fun!
Do you know the book "Einstein Never Used Flashcards."? It is on exactly this topic. Most of the most important things about play is that it is how young children learn and explore best.
A few friends just read and recommended a book that speaks to the importance of play and how play is almost endangered....
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv I can't wait to read this one!
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