in Family Life - Post Comment
I've always been interested in how families long ago survived and thrived without all the "stuff" that we have today. Back then there weren't bikes, legos, basketball hoops and balls, play dump trucks and sand boxes, little people and the list goes on and on! We have so much STUFF these days. We're moving again in a week and I know even though I've gotten rid of a lot of STUFF, we still have too much of it.
The other day I was encouraging my kids to play with the stuff of nature. It started by my getting down on the ground with one of my 4yo twins and helping him build a "house". We had found some moss on the ground and my twin boys were pretending it was a carpet. We started our house by sticking stuff into the moss and making "people" out of sticks. We were able to prop up some sticks for a "doorway" and from there my twin boys took off in their creativity. It was a lot of fun to watch them use sticks, rocks, and moss to construct a house!
Other activities they have enjoyed doing using only nature items include building pretend fires, building a fort out of sticks/dead branches in the woodsy area of our yard, and digging for "treasure" using sticks to dig with. We were lying on the ground in a sandy/gravelly area of our driveway and seeing what rocks and other things would turn up when we dug. What a joy to watch our children's creativity grow with the simple, free things in life! So get outside and lie on the ground with your kids and discover God's wonderful creation with them. You'll be amazed to see what creative, imaginative things they think of and do!
Hi AGAIN
Posted by rellamom on Sat 21 Apr 2007 at 02:35 - Link
You'll probably tire of ME commenting on your blog!
<laugh>
I just had to comment here...
I remember when my sister and I were girls... we used to take the "decorative stones" around the house and use them to "build" houses. Then other rocks were used as "people".
Sticks and twigs we would find and use as "fences" and "borders" for our OWN little play houses and for mazes and whatnot.
Ohhh and don't forget the shrubs, and low hanging trees that created a "cover" for a "secret clubhouse"!
:-)
I remember reading a story, recently, of a little girl who grew up in war-torn Russia/Germany. She certainly had no toys for outdoor play. She remembers playing with the toads and other creatures down by a pond near the house!
Children, today, I think LACK more... even though they have all the STUFF. There is less imagination, less appreciation, etc...
Carrie
What a wonderful blessing
Posted by cindy on Sat 21 Apr 2007 at 06:42 - Link
isn't it just wonderful when we can 'play' in God's creation.!! I just love the house, garden and such that you and the twins built. My children and I love doing things like that too.
Enjoy the sunshine and the blessings from God.
Cindy B
Our Journey Into The Country - A Faith Walk