I'm sure there are books out there about this stuff. I haven't read them, but I think I would probably like them. They would be about letting your kids play in nature, letting them have free time, letting them rest and not having someone hovering over them all the time. In fact, I'd like there to be a book called called "Saving Adulthood" where grown ups get more of that stuff as well. I think I would like that one too.
Honestly though, I'm not complaining, I think Ryan and I actually do a pretty good job of living like that.
I remember back in the day, learning about how developmentally important free play is to children (I majored in Psychology). Now as I raise my children, I see opportunities everywhere to "Sign them Up" for great things. In reality they are all great things. There's soccer, gymnastics, piano lessons, dance, karate, sewing, swim lessons, awanas, t-ball, pre-school, kid-hiking groups, library story time...and the list goes on ( most of these things have been options for a while now and my kids are only 4 and 5! Not even in kinder yet). Of course, I'm not opposed to doing any of these thing. We have signed up for and loved many of these great activities.
It's just that I am thankful that I am in a area, and have a home where our kids have the option of, (or are forced to take), ample free-play time. It's restful, it encourages creativity (and messes;), and it helps build my kids relationships with each other.
I recently read a quote, it was referring to having "too many toys," having "too much information," and "too much speed," without any down time. It said:
"Too many choices erodes happiness, robbing kids of the gift of boredom which encourages creativity and self-directed learning."
When it comes to my kids and my childhood experience, I agree.
I have seen boredom give birth to amazing creativity in my kids. I'm quoting my mom verbatim when I tell them...
"OK, if you can't find anything to do, I'll find something for you to do, and it will involve cleaning the house with me."
Win-Win Right?
Sometimes they clean -Win.
Often they run away at the terrifying prospect of folding laundry screaming 'Nooooo!" and their imaginations take over-Win (I get it kids. I get it. If I could I would, and sometimes I do!).
We literally had a town made of paper and masking tape in our closet for weeks..a house, mailbox, car...We have a hole dug to the other side of the world by an oak tree. We have a 20 gallon bucket of 'treasures,' commonly known as rocks and sticks, that has been guarded upon penalty of death. There is always an art project secretly being stashed in the trash can, proudly displayed on the fridge.
Creativity can be exhausting from a parent's perspective.
I'm looking forward to what God will teach me about rest this summer. It comes just in time because next fall we enter a new season of life.... Kindergarten and soccer season : )
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