The big question…..What have you been up to this summer?
I feel like I’m the only one not filling every moment with BIG PLANS. After the hustle and bustle of the busy school year, I decided I wanted to try to do a whole lot of NOTHING. And I do mean TRY. It’s not always easy to keep your days open. People like to plan. I like to plan. So I have to try when I decide not to plan.
I remember my summers as a kid. I had lots of boring days where I had to come up with my own fun. I swam a lot. I read a lot of books, came up with my own silly projects, and played outside in the street with friends. I was usually barefoot and my hair was wild and stringy. We would have a few big adventures as a family, but I honestly don’t remember those as fondly as I remember just hanging around.
I want my kids to have those days. We like to ride our bikes and play in the street in front of our house. I was amazed that I never saw other kids doing this in my neighborhood. Once mine were old enough and we started hanging out in the street, I had several neighbors stop and comment that they love seeing kids playing in the street because it’s so unusual now. We’ll even get a little mob going some days when other kids come out and join us. It’s wonderful and WAY too rare.
Have you considered doing “nothing” but afraid you’ll be shortchanging your kids by not providing loads of professionally led enrichment?
Here are a couple of articles about how not enough outdoor “free play” may actually be hurting our kids.
This is good news……really. Staying home is WAY easier AND cheaper. Wander around your neighborhood, make some friends. When you have some free time, send them a quick text letting them know you’ll be out in the street. It will become a thing and your kids will LOVE it. Just like we did when we were kids.
Author Info
No Comments