A Return to Childhood

Aah, sum, sum, summertime!

Those words conjure up a magic that transports me back to my childhood. Remember wiling away the summers with kick-the-can, hide-n-go-seek and endless games of sandlot baseball? Does Chinese jump rope ring a bell? Playing jacks and making it to "cherries in a basket?"

How about rummaging through your parents' closet and discovering the perfect costume for the basement play production? Spending hours collecting grasshoppers or lightening bugs in a jar? Making a tree fort in the woods? 

Want to recapture a bit of that magic with your video-addicted children? Then gather up the kids and go play.

Renowned Child Psychologist and Author David Elkind writes in his book, The Power of Play, I now appreciate that silencing children's play is as harmful to healthy development (if not more so) as hurrying them to grow up too fast too soon." 

The simple joy of playing is being lost on children whose schedules are packed with sports practices, lessons and plugged in screen time. Children now spend much of their time in adult lead activities and have little opportunity to stretch their imaginations or learn how to problem solve without adult interference. 

Want to be your child's hero and contribute to their healthy development? 

Help them rediscover the benefits of good, old-fashioned, non-elecronic play.

A few weeks ago, while working at Royal Family Kids Camp, I engaged in a little play myself. After years of avoiding the snake infested, grimy lake water, I decided to lighten up a bit and take the plunge. After passing my swim test (on the first try) and receiving my coveted blue band allowing me access to the deep end, a 10-year old friend grabbed my hand and together we jumped off the dock. As I bubbled to the survace she shouted, "race you to the banana!"

For 40 minutes we giggled uproariously as she heaved and struggled to pull my middle-aged body onto a bright yellow, banana shaped teeter-totter float. Arms nearing exhaustion, I finally managed to hike my leg up over the thing and hoist myself aboard. 

I pumped my fist into the air triumphantly and... a moment later was bounced back into the drink by my sweet young friend. I shudder to think what my 50-year-old, bathing suit clad bottom must have looked like from shore as I clung to that contraption. Undignified? You bet. 

But the giggles we shared and the bond we forged will remain with me long after the snow flies.  And, I had more fun than I'd had in years.

You too can recaputure childhood and share it with your own kids. It's a close as your re-cycle bin. Grab a can and round up the neighborhood. You're It and you can play until the street lights come on. I double-dog dare you.