A friend and I exchange childcare, which works out great for our only children that won't start school until September. This morning my son and his friend played in our 8x12 backspace that in the winter is full of mud, ice, bricks, sticks,plants and toy trucks. The kids had a blast and I got to hang out inside on my own and with my friend when she showed up. I am thinking we will build a little playhouse out there this spring and definitely try growing grapes.
Before they went outside, they made grand messes in the living room and my son's bedroom. That's my big advice-get over the messes. Everyone can clean up later.
Excellent advice! I agree that it's necessary to turn a blind eye to the mess and noise and chaos in order to promote proper play (within reason). And I tell myself that someday I'll long for the sounds of children playing!
I think having loads of paper and a variety of art supplies are helpful too -- and not being insistent that things stay spotlessly clean. Sometimes things, projects, etc, just stay out to confined places to be easily resumed the next day.
I find the unplugged life is just messier, but there's a beauty in that.
Ongoing play (like my kids' massive blanket for they built on a snowy week that became their Tolkien-inspired Hobbit hole complete with library and twinkling lights) requires me to relax -- the tradeoffs being it's a little louder and there are more antics and things to tend to later -- but my kids are having an embodied childhood and I wouldn't trade that for anything.
I hear all the time from other parents who "just can't deal" -- with the noise, the mess, the relational conflict that arises from play (especially in middle childhood) -- and don't foster device-free play... and then wonder at the complexities in their children's behavior EXACERBATED by being so plugged in.
My children are grown and flown and I can tell you, you will miss the noise and the mess, the life that drains out of your home when they go. But my real reason to comment was to say I need to implement many of these ideas on myself. Because now we are empty nesters I’ve forgotten how to play, how to be, how to fill the void and find scrolling is taking charge of me. So I guess my point is don’t give up yourself to be a parent and it’s not only the kids who need to fill the void.
A friend and I exchange childcare, which works out great for our only children that won't start school until September. This morning my son and his friend played in our 8x12 backspace that in the winter is full of mud, ice, bricks, sticks,plants and toy trucks. The kids had a blast and I got to hang out inside on my own and with my friend when she showed up. I am thinking we will build a little playhouse out there this spring and definitely try growing grapes.
Before they went outside, they made grand messes in the living room and my son's bedroom. That's my big advice-get over the messes. Everyone can clean up later.
Excellent advice! I agree that it's necessary to turn a blind eye to the mess and noise and chaos in order to promote proper play (within reason). And I tell myself that someday I'll long for the sounds of children playing!
Always within reason!
YES to the messes!
I think having loads of paper and a variety of art supplies are helpful too -- and not being insistent that things stay spotlessly clean. Sometimes things, projects, etc, just stay out to confined places to be easily resumed the next day.
I find the unplugged life is just messier, but there's a beauty in that.
Ongoing play (like my kids' massive blanket for they built on a snowy week that became their Tolkien-inspired Hobbit hole complete with library and twinkling lights) requires me to relax -- the tradeoffs being it's a little louder and there are more antics and things to tend to later -- but my kids are having an embodied childhood and I wouldn't trade that for anything.
I hear all the time from other parents who "just can't deal" -- with the noise, the mess, the relational conflict that arises from play (especially in middle childhood) -- and don't foster device-free play... and then wonder at the complexities in their children's behavior EXACERBATED by being so plugged in.
My children are grown and flown and I can tell you, you will miss the noise and the mess, the life that drains out of your home when they go. But my real reason to comment was to say I need to implement many of these ideas on myself. Because now we are empty nesters I’ve forgotten how to play, how to be, how to fill the void and find scrolling is taking charge of me. So I guess my point is don’t give up yourself to be a parent and it’s not only the kids who need to fill the void.
You raise a great point, that so much of what we say kids need is exactly what we adults need in our own lives, too. Thank you.