Let’s Play for Real!

There’s this great video on The National (CBC) about slow parenting that’s got me pumped about how I’m parenting, and about my It’s all Kid’s Play website. It also makes me hopeful. Maybe allowing free play for kids will take hold again. Because what are we really doing to our kids and their development with this crazy shuttling around from activity to activity? Does the average kid get to learn who they really are? What they want? Do they get time to sit quietly and listen to themselves? In a lot of ways, as the video says, “We’re outsourcing childhood to adults because we think we can do it better and safer.” Yikes!

Anyway, it is a great video for parents, teachers, kids, and well, anyone who’s ever had a childhood or looked at family and said, “What the heck are you doing? You are parenting ALL wrong!”

This short video on play (Seriously: The Movie) is also really good. It’ll get you thinking about play, too.

As well, fabulous Jemi Fraser took a little tour of It’s All Kid’s Play and its blog the other day and shared it with her very lovely blog readers. You can check that out here.

I’m also tweeting kids activities, family activities, arts and crafts, links, and articles on parenting, play, free play, slow parenting, and so much more over on Twitter (@KidsPlay) as well. Come join me! (I’ll also be creating a Facebook page where I will share these tidbits for those of you who are not into Twitter, but are looking for activities to do with your children as well as interesting little parenting bits.)

P.S. Wondering what “slow parenting” is? Here is a quote from writer Carl Honore (featured on The National above):

“Slow parenting is about bringing a bit of balance back. It’s about giving children the time and space to explore the world on their own terms and their own pace. And to make mistakes and learn from them. To get bored, even, so they can learn how to create and to invent their own fun and work out who they are rather than who we want them to be.”