"Why do you think I'm so strong, Momma?" After various promises to shoot me an elk or bear and make a rug with the head still on it, Jack dreams of being a man. He and Jane spend hours hunting game in the play room, out in the yard.
Last January we loaded all their toys into bins, even the new pop-guns. We meant to make an impression. And then they hardly noticed. Five bin-fulls. A few tears, then nothing.
Months went by, half a year, never did get around to giving the toys back.
It's dinner tonight, "My high today was playing in the playroom with Jane." It's always a game of high adventure; most times they nearly die. In the end one or another saves the day. Even Lulie knows the rules. Between of stacks books and wadded islands of blankets, high honor, valiant risk, our drab playroom transforms into a universe. They weave stories without thinking -- and play.
Isn't that where it all begins, there in the playroom without toys? They play. And almost without my noticing, a life-long learner emerges, a playing child that moves on to words and numbers and long strands of ideas, literature, physics. They play, invent the whole world.
Sort of makes me afraid to buy them any toys.
14 comments:
I love it! YES, little lives beating at the joy of discovery and imagination. Oh that we would always see things like a child. :)
You have no. idea. how much I needed to read this post!!! As though I've come for coffee and in the midst of casual chit-chat I've received a priceless treasure! Didn't even realize my anxious heart -- gift-giving holidays quickly approaching -- needed to hear this peace-restoring antidote. To consider what would truly bless my babies beyond temporal gratifications.
I love you! Thank you for your encouragement!
Thank you for this push, as I've been considering further playroom weeding for a few weeks now. With the exception of Legos and K'nex, they're at their most creative without "toys." Thrills me when they assign great worth and purpose to random objects. :)
So very little is really necessary.
We haven't learned how to use time, we've learned how to buy things.
YES!
Don't forget one more little benefit I've noticed from our extended vacation from all the "stuff"... so much less to clean up! ;)
Makes bedtime so much more enjoyable when it is not the dreaded rush to pick up the mounds of toys.
Feels like we just had this conversation yesterday (hahaha)
WaHoo! We loved dropping in on you guys. :)
Ah yes... this post is refreshing! I LOVE your perspective on this subject Bethany.
Wow - seriously no toys in the whole house? Your tupperware drawer must get a workout! :)
I totally agree that you can have too much stuff, but I do appreciate a well thought out toy (those are usually the ones we get after returning ones we received as gifts - don't tell!). I feel that just like lots of areas of life, the parent determines whether or not the child will have a life-long love affair with learning. :)
PS - I have to thank you for this post since I do have our playroom on the brain lately since it's nearly finished. You've got me thinking... :)
There is so much locked up in those minds, thank you for sharing our thoughts! You guys are an encouragement in a world that believe more is better :) Keep doing what your doing!!! And by the way so happy for you and your growing family!!! Would love to chat and hang out some time...
This will make Christmas shopping soooo much easier.
Grandma Schafer
PSS - I was just re-thinking my comment and afraid that it sounded off. I know that you could have a playroom brimming with toys and still have kids who yearn to learn more - because of you and Craig! Phew. Done overthinking for the night. ;)
No worries, I knew what you meant. :) Thanks!
And what a blessing you each are to me. Can't even quantify my gratitude.
I found with my kids if you took away too much of the imagination factor, the toys were only good for novelty purposes anyway. The play kitchen just took up space. The plastic playhouse was only good for climbing on the roof and jumping off of. Mud pies won hands down over plastic food. But get them one of those huge appliance boxes and let them color and paint the walls and it would be used until it was torn and shredded. And oh my! Dress up clothes were king in our house. (All girls mind you)I think one of the best gifts they ever got was a huge plastic bucket of dress up clothes from Good Will--old prom dresses and bridesmaid dresses, lacy negligees, scarves, ties, wild and funny looking shirts and dresses, crazy hats and high heeled pumps. The more outrageous the better. They are teenagers now and put that crate in front of them and they will still have fun with it. The only other toys that came close to its longevity were the blocks and legos. Remember those red wood blocks we had growing up, Goat? I would still play with them if I had them. Yup, a few props can be nice but imagination is the best "toy".
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