Hands at Play
I feel as if I lived through the Wonder Years of Play, growing through my childhood in the fifties. In that regard, it was perhaps the best of times.
Unlike children in the times of our distant ancestors, we had no fear of disease, hunger or prowling animals or human invaders. We had few difficult or time consuming chores beyond a little yard work in the summers. We lived close enough to friends to have a ship-full of pirates or a half dozen each of cowboys and indians ('scuse please, I mean range technicians and native Americans.) We were fortunate enough to have a ball or two, a pair of skates (and a sidewalk!)and a wagon. We lived near a patch of woods on a vacant lot that was our wilderness where we built forts of sticks and climbed every tree we could manage safely, and a few others to boot. We threw rocks at pop bottles in the powerline clearing, flew Junebugs on a string, and stayed out past dark in the summer with a jar with the lid poked full of holes for lightning bugs. We were outside every minute we were allowed to be, and our scuffed knees and elbows usually showed it.
I was happy to see Abby stay with us for four physically-active days without one minute of TV or video or thumb-powered electronic toy and be perfectly content. And I bet she'll be the only five year old girl in her kindergarten class this year who has shot a home-made bow and arrow. (This was the kind contribution of our neighbors, whose son visited with his, and the next day he brought one for Abby!)
It has come up several times in recent conversations: the imagination and play outdoors are blessings whose nurture and most precious use comes in childhood. (If it doesn't grow strong then, does that impact and impoverish one's adult imagination and sense of play?)
But not every childhood in every age gets the play of the mind and body that nurtures both. So much of today's play puts everything a child could have imagined right there on some kind of screen and he or she runs, jumps, and becomes king or queen of the mountain by wiggling one or more fingers while munching some of those tasty artificial foods I was talking about yesterday. I would wish for them the good memories of open spaces, tree forts, barn lofts, of woodlots and creeks, and the wind in their faces--to indulge the mind and hands and heart in play.
(Just file this post under "maudlin moments" of a dirt-road curmudgeon.) Larger image is here.
Comments
The sad part is that it is not safe for many kids to even play outside anymore. I am glad my daughter moved here to the country to raise her kids, they can usually be found out in the woods or by the creek or in the treehouse.
http://patchworkreflections.blogspot.com/2006/05/tree-house-done.html
Posted by: Susan | August 30, 2006 6:45 AM
I had the best of both worlds! I lived too far out to have a "Wonder Years" childhood, but my best friend (who is STILL my best friend) lived in a neighborhood - so she got to experience farm life, and I got to experience "suburban" living.
I miss the country stores. Thinking back, there was one within five or six miles of just about anywhere! If we wanted a store-bought snack, we had to hoof it to the nearest country store to get it.
Every year in March, my mom would help us make homemade kites using leftover christmas wrap and flour glue. We spend hours - all of us together - up on the ridge, flying our kites.
Thank Heavens we have these great memories!
Posted by: Mary Lawless | August 30, 2006 6:47 AM
Adding to the list of memories . . .
Using a clothespin to attach a baseball card near the spokes of the bicycle tire to turn my bike into a motorcycle.
Playing "kick the can" with the neighborhood kids after the street lights came on.
Sitting cross legged on the porch of the elderly neighbor lady with my friends as she read aloud to us the adventures of Alice in Wonderland for an hour or so each afternoon one summer.
Posted by: jane | August 30, 2006 7:36 AM
I was thinking about this the other day, and I wonder if the size of homes today has something to do with it? Growing up, I never lived in a home over 2000 sq ft, and most were probably well below 1500. My kids have never lived in a house less than 1500 sq feet, and our current home is more than twice the size of anyplace I ever lived growing up.
When you have the space inside to spread out, it's much more appealing than the trapped with your family feeling most of us remember about being "stuck" in the house.
My daughter totally blows this theory though, as she would happily ditch the creature comforts of home and throw a sleeping bag in the barn to spend more time with her horse.
Posted by: COD | August 30, 2006 8:09 AM
My childhood in the 70's and 80's was quite unique. I spent hours on end exploring forests, watching animals, hunting and fishing, looking for arrowheads, camping, riding bikes, playing with dogs, and playing golf and soccer.
I guess I had a charmed country life, and I don't find many in megalopolis that can relate.
Posted by: Jim | August 30, 2006 9:27 AM
amen! i realize how blessed i was growing up on a farm- and not only having that space to roam, but being surrounded with hundreds of acres of TVA land and woods. we had absolutely no desire to sit inside and watch tv during the day (although that could be due to the fact that we only got about 4 or so fuzzy channels). our only time constraint was to be home by dark. i'm sure abby loves coming and visiting- i know my son and his cousin's love going to "grandma and pop-pop's house" in the country. that's always the highlight of their summer and will make lasting imprints on them.
Posted by: amy f. | August 30, 2006 10:41 AM
I grew up in a rowhouse in Baltimore in the 50's. Our neighborhood was full of kids and we had great adventures in our alley and on a vacant lot. Little swimming pools on the concrete parking pad and hose battles with the nextdoor neighbors were among the joys of summer. I agree that the world was a safer place and our parents could let us roam until the street lights came on.
I worry about my friends who plop their 2 yr. old in front of the DVD player even when they're at the dinner table.
Abby is lucky to have you to show her the joyous wonders of outside!
Jane
Posted by: Jane U. | August 31, 2006 3:15 PM