It is a happy talent to know how to play.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
As the recognition of the need for children to play outside and connect with nature grows, organizations around the country are creating Bill of Rights campaigns to help raise awareness and get kids off the couch and outside. Examples include California, Maryland, and Chicago. Here at TGSG, we’ve talked about Can’t Miss Childhood Moments, reliving the happy memories of our own childhood play and lamenting the fact that many of today’s kids are missing out on simple joys to be found outdoors.
So, my challenge to you is to create a Play Bill of Rights for yourself, and if there are kids in your world — help them to create one, too. (The age of the child will obviously impact how involved they can be in the process.) I recommend starting with your own. As we have talked about before, play is important across the lifespan and modeling play and the love of nature is important for children to see. We can’t say, “Go outside and play,” if the only thing we ever do is work or spend time plugged into our electronic devices. Well, we can, but it won’t be nearly as effective, and could lead to resentment and fights.
To help get your juices flowing, I am sharing a few of my “play rights” below, but please, come-up with whatever feels right for you. And have FUN with it! Go nuts!
I have the right to:
- Unplug at least an hour a day and do something that makes me happy;
- Walk barefoot and not care about how dirty my feet are;
- Walk in the woods and forget everything and everyone and just enjoy the sounds of nature;
- Giggle and clap my hands at the new crop of baby ducks each year, and generally act like a 5 year-old; and
- Think that nothing tastes better than an orange popsicle eaten while sitting in the shade of a favorite tree on a hot summer day.
What it boils down to is this: I have the right to LIVE. To play, and laugh, and leave the dishes in the sink sometimes — and so do you. I would love to hear what some of your rights are, so please share a few in the comments section!
Now, if you will excuse me, there is an orange popsicle in the freezer with my name on it. I have a grape one too, if you care to join me.
See ya outside! – The Grass Stain Guru
Grape popsicle… purple IS my favorite color… LOVE this post! The photo is magical, the quote is wonderful and the post is right on! Thank you!
Well, since I have the RIGHT to play, I’m off to do just that. http://bit.ly/IbGn3 Tweetcha later, gators!
RT @balmeras: Have you staked your claim? Your Right to Play Outdoors http://bit.ly/IbGn3
For the night shift: Today’s post @ The Grass Stain Guru: Your Right to Play Outdoors http://bit.ly/IbGn3 #playoutdoors
RT @balmeras: For the night shift: Today’s post @ The Grass Stain Guru: Your Right to Play Outdoors http://bit.ly/IbGn3 #playoutdoors
@ScreamingEagle1 The Shaw quote is one of the reasons I wrote today’s post: http://bit.ly/IbGn3
)
Well, since I have the RIGHT to play, I’m off to do just that. http://bit.ly/IbGn3 Tweetcha later, gators!
RT @balmeras: @ScreamingEagle1 The Shaw quote is one of the reasons I wrote today’s post: http://bit.ly/IbGn3
)
For the night shift: Today’s post @ The Grass Stain Guru: Your Right to Play Outdoors http://bit.ly/IbGn3 #playoutdoors
RT @balmeras: For the night shift: Today’s post @ The Grass Stain Guru: Your Right to Play Outdoors http://bit.ly/IbGn3 #playoutdoors
@ScreamingEagle1 The Shaw quote is one of the reasons I wrote today’s post: http://bit.ly/IbGn3
)
RT @balmeras: @ScreamingEagle1 The Shaw quote is one of the reasons I wrote today’s post: http://bit.ly/IbGn3
)
Fixin 2 head out 4 an early start on GNO. Be well & happy, all. Shave off early & go #playoutdoors. http://bit.ly/IbGn3 I’ll write U a note!
Fixin 2 head out 4 an early start on GNO. Be well & happy, all. Shave off early & go #playoutdoors. http://bit.ly/IbGn3 I’ll write U a note!
Fixin 2 head out 4 an early start on GNO. Be well & happy, all. Shave off early & go #playoutdoors. http://bit.ly/IbGn3 I’ll write U a note!
Great post from The Grass Stain Guru http://is.gd/10Oim
After my recent holiday experience and before I read this post I’d rediscovered the power in making a committment to play as a part of my own life. The joy and freedom experienced when that committment is upheld nourish the very part of us that modern living has allowed to atrophy.
I’m re-discovering this in my late 30′s and synchronicity is playing a big part. Your posts, Bethe, coincide perfectly with this process.
IMHO we need to remember that we all have a child deep within us that needs to express, feel, experience the world around us. Healing for the self and the soul.
Great post from The Grass Stain Guru http://is.gd/10Oim
RT @eyesonnature: RT @balmeras: Have you staked your claim? Your Right to Play Outdoors http://bit.ly/IbGn3
RT @eyesonnature: RT @balmeras: Have you staked your claim? Your Right to Play Outdoors http://bit.ly/IbGn3
@sctshep I look forward to checking it all out, Scott. & thanks 4 the kind words re my site. Here’s a post U might like http://bit.ly/kZv8K
@sctshep I look forward to checking it all out, Scott. & thanks 4 the kind words re my site. Here’s a post U might like http://bit.ly/kZv8K
Hmmm…let me think. I have the right to take that jazz dance class. I have the right to lie in a hammock and not think about laundry. I have the right to take a nap when my daughter does. I have the right to crank up the music and have a ball in the kitchen, even if there are dirty dishes in the sink. Wow, felt good to get that out!
Right on, sister!!!