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.”

Childhood

Band-aids make everything better when you’re a kid. I remember putting them on bumps and bruises too. And yes, they did make them feel better.

But, now…I am an adult. So…I’m going to go make some chili.

Later…

Things to worry about: you have a creative child who is very much an individual, but also a pleaser. A combo destined to confusion over one’s sense of self. As a three-year-old, our daughter is very creative in the way that she chooses to dress herself and how she does her hair. She takes great pride in her outfits and her father and I make appropriate, complementary compliments on her outfit and then take her out in public. I don’t care if her socks don’t match. I don’t care that she has placed her black velvet dress over plaid pants, and that her red hair ribbon is tied around her chest and daintily accessorized with a yellow hair barrette. Add a shiny pink shirt, worn open over top and a hair band and she is ready to go. And I am fine with that. But there are people who have a very definite sense of what should be worn with what. And they do not allow those rules to be softened for the younger kids—like three-year-olds. Like a certain octagarian I know who basically told her that she would be more beautiful if her shoes matched. Well, being a pleaser…you get the picture. But fear not, she got even in her own little way. Never underestimate the power of karma and the creativity and intelligence of ‘little’ ones.

So, today I discovered that I am not the only one who thinks Jack Johnson is HOT. I am not the only mom out there who rents Curious George for her kid(s) and says, ‘sure’ when the kids ask if they can watch the Curious George music video again. Yes, it stars Jack Johnson. A tip though…Ben Harper is cute…apparently. So, now I must Google him. Will return…

Okay back now…not as much as good ol’ Jack. Cute, but no cigar.

Here’s a picture:

Ben Harper

Now dare to compare:

Jack Johnson

I mean, really. Is there any contest? In my world…no. I mean I even have a character in my latest work, Allie, who is TOTALLY in love with Jack Johnson. As my friend was saying today, it is something about a guy crooning a love song. I would say that she TOTALLY nailed that one on the head. And really, a guy acting all cute around Curious George. There is something wrong with my brain, I know. But, I was born this way. Really, there is not a lot I can do about it. What isn’t nature was nurture. Besides, I like me this way.

Life Lesson #1: Never buy a wood table that needs to be oiled. It’s a pain in the ass. Unless you know, you like things to be a pain in the ass…