I’ve been trying to write about play for the last two days — and it’s been surprisingly hard to do, which is more commentary on my life and these troubled times than the subject itself.
Ohhhh, I may love this newsletter most of all. (Besides the stellar writing, the photo of the kids packed "like sardines" into that sandbox was hilarious.) You got to the heart of what makes play actually joyful, and your now adult son nailed it, and youbrought it to light, that all of the people-made structures in the world can thrill, but it's wild nature that kids love the most. I remember a highly organized birthday party for my son at Stern Grove. All the treasures hunts and pin-the-tails went out the window when the kids wandered into the woods to stare for two hours at the giant banana slugs.
Thank you! My lesson of that was the birthday party where the kids ignored all the pre-planned games and activities and spent the afternoon playing with a piece of rope!
Oh and playground safety has some interesting angles. I used to write about this in the 1990s (when our kids were young) using people from this Iowa group. Source: National Program for Playground Safety
Fun and fascinating piece. I was never a great playground player, as a kid or parent or now grandparent. But I still play, my way., which usually involves exploring, outdoors or in, new place or old, preferably with friends. Look forward to playing with you soon in SF.
Ohhhh, I may love this newsletter most of all. (Besides the stellar writing, the photo of the kids packed "like sardines" into that sandbox was hilarious.) You got to the heart of what makes play actually joyful, and your now adult son nailed it, and youbrought it to light, that all of the people-made structures in the world can thrill, but it's wild nature that kids love the most. I remember a highly organized birthday party for my son at Stern Grove. All the treasures hunts and pin-the-tails went out the window when the kids wandered into the woods to stare for two hours at the giant banana slugs.
Thank you! My lesson of that was the birthday party where the kids ignored all the pre-planned games and activities and spent the afternoon playing with a piece of rope!
Oh and playground safety has some interesting angles. I used to write about this in the 1990s (when our kids were young) using people from this Iowa group. Source: National Program for Playground Safety
https://search.app/7YLCEaH3dMexr5X6A
Fun and fascinating piece. I was never a great playground player, as a kid or parent or now grandparent. But I still play, my way., which usually involves exploring, outdoors or in, new place or old, preferably with friends. Look forward to playing with you soon in SF.