The Grass Stain Guru

Great post! We really have gotten away from some of the core parts of just being a “kid.” I am almost 30 and it amazes me how much the world has changed since I was little. It makes me sad that in a world of video games, cell phones and other possessions children lose out on real learning from the best tool-their imaginations. They are overstimulated from technology and grow up way too fast. I hope if I ever have kids, I can give them the elements you mention here. I grew up in a rural area so I was always outside growing up. I know I am lucky for having so many happy memories as a child.

I am a huge supporter of trying to make sure that kids get plenty of time to just play. It is amazing how many organized activities kids can sign up for. I want to find that balance, but it challenging.

I agree with all ten thoughts. I teach early childhood development and education classes at the community college and I have a 17 year old son. I am continually advocating to my students not only the value of true play, but also to give children their childhoods back. I challenge them to remember the best aspects of their childhoods and to bring those elements, large blocks of uninterrupted time, the illusion of no adult supervision, risk taking, being outside, playing with nature, open ended materials, and real things (not store bought toys), hiding, imagination, getting dirty and messy, mixed ages play, secrets and surprises, independent projects, feeling powerful in your body and time to do nothing but watch the clouds or reflect.

After teaching 16 years what scares me most is when I use to ask my students to reflect and write about their fondest childhood memory the above elements or themes were consistent regardless of my students age, ethnicity, religion, country of origin, or if the grew up in the city, the suburbs or rural. However, now I’m being to see young adults who don’t have these memories and it scares me. It one thing to connect adults to their own childhood and inspire them to want to create this for their children or the children they care for, but when the adult doesn’t have these wonderful memories to pull from it much, much more difficult and then we have adults making senseless rules and laws than harm children more than the help them.

I truly believe we do more harm to the growth and development of this next generation by putting the in a bubble then by allowing them to be children, to play, to take some risks, get dirty, problem solve, grow and learn through experience!

In regards to organized sports, I agree. They can be great in moderation, just like most things in life moderation and not as a substitute for real play. My son has played baseball since he was 5 and loves it. But is only plays its during true baseball season and then takes the rest of the year off. And even during baseball season he has always had time to play, hang out with friends, and relax. I have always wanted son, to have memories the type of memories that Tom Hunter sang about “may the memories wrap their arms around you and protect you when they can”. I hope I’ve provided those types of experiences mentioned above for him and I help others working with children to do the same for the children in their care.

Truly beautiful, Bethe. I don’t usually comment on this blog (she sees me enough at work y’all), but felt compelled to. Thank you for this.
Dr. Kwame M. Brown´s last [type] ..Toddler Cloud!

I have to say, that is so TRUE, when I was a kid we got told to go dig a hole in the backyard, for fun, we had limited time on the old sega and t.v. My daughter gets to only watch ABC in the moning and afternoon for alittle while and then we do her reading with her, she loves reading, we have caught her a couple of times playing with my 15 month old boy pretending to be a Teacher. That is what a kid should be about, pretending is what a kid is all about, these days it is all about learning everything on the Computer not like we used too pen and paper. But thank you for this blog it has all the things that should be taken into account these days.

Dear Beth, Thank you so much for sharing! I am an in-home childcare provider, and work to provide an intentional, child-directed, play-based community. It can be hard to defend what I do to other educators and to the ECE community at large. My clients are all passionate about the types of interactions I support…there are families out there that are looking for this type of early experience. Thank you so much for taking the time to share!! Warmly, Emily
Emily Plank´s last [type] ..Mind the NO!

That is my all time favourite quote Beth! Great post. I must share!

Hi. I’m a big supporter of getting kids outdoors in general. I teach environmental education for ages very little through college/adult for a non-profit called, Little Traverse Conservancy (www.landtrust.org), and I chair a grassroots group called, Getting Kids Outdoors in Emmet County (northern michigan). I would LOVE to share some of your blog posts on our website as long as you don’t mind. I’m learning the ropes of blog etiquette, so bear with me! Thanks so much for doing what I don’t take time out to do! Love the name of your site too Thank you!