Recall the days when we were allowed to climb scary playground edifices, and experiment with various ways of going up or down the slide? Do you remember what it was like to twist the chains of your swing as much as you could and then lift your feet off the ground so you could spin yourself dizzy? Remember those backyard contests to see who could jump off the swing and land the farthest? I suppose we could have broken bones or needed stitches, but it never happened to us. Apparently there is now a concerted effort to ensure it will never happen to any other child either. I do understand the desire to minimize accidents and injuries, I just find it terribly sad that childhood has become so strictly managed. I desperately want to let them be brave and imaginative, and I can't. I will adjust. I have to. But I won't like it. I won't like it any better than I like hearing adults tell children, "that's not what that's for" when little girls wear what looks like shower curtain rings as bracelets. An adult out there somewhere came up with a game of some kind and utilized shower curtain rings, but the little ones, so full of energy and imagination, are seemingly discouraged from from doing it on their own. This I do not understand. I will adjust to this too, at least I will try... Okay, maybe I won't.
The Barn Collective.
5 hours ago
I remember doing so many things that this generation of kids are not allowed to do. It really is crazy! Just letting our kids play in the front yard let alone jump off a swing can land you in a boatload of trouble nowadays.
ReplyDeleteYes, and so we all capitulate. (How do you like that word?) I want to be an old school kindergarten teacher, but unfortunately event he children these days aren't old school. (Do I sound like a grandmother?)
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Jumping off the swings, cherry drops from those obsolete metal jungle gyms...and playing in the woods. When I was in elementary school, we were allowed to play in the woods during playtime! It was the best! I remember the teachers sitting around talking, paying us no attention at all on that playground. At home, we played in the creek around the corner. We "lived" there next to that creek, even made some camp fires, and no one ever said anything. We caught frogs and tadpoles and made rickety ramps for our bikes. We played hide-and-seek all over the neighborhood, in the evenings. I think it would be really hard to have to regulate all the creativity right out of those children, Martha, but rules are rules, and these days, people like rules. I hope it's not too hard to get used to it.
ReplyDeleteYou're childhood was just like mine, except a couple hours apart in distance. I loved the playing in the woods, the creek, catching snakes, falling off our bikes! Ha ha!
DeleteI will get used to it. I even heard myself say, "That's not what those are for" today. Of course, they weren't shower curtain ring bracelets. I think it was turning sections of marble chute into swords, which is still imaginative... I will get used to it, but I might be slightly rebellious on the inside where no one else can see.
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Hey! Two moms of sixteen!
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that?
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I think of this quite often.
ReplyDeleteI try to only limit if safety is a real issue. I like to see what they come up with creativity-wise. I'm often very impressed.