My Childhood Connections to Play

There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

Sweet childish days, that were as long as twenty days are now. ~William Wordsworth

These two quotes describe my childhood to a T.  I come from a big family.  I am one of five so I had many people to play with.  My parents made sure my siblings and I played as much as possible.  I played outside a lot and what I remember is the sky being so blue and the air so crisp.  The smell of grass in the beginning of summer and feeling the dew on my feet in the morning time.  My parents would play outside with us.  At the age of 4 years old, I remember my mother using games and songs to teach me colors, numbers, alphabet, and even how to spell my name.  It not only helped with the remembering and learning but it was fun.  My father was huge factor when it came to outside play.  I remember my father teaching my how to pump my legs on the swings and then he would swing with me.  I thought he could swing so high and then he would jump off the swings.  So to me my father was superman and he could fly and I wanted to fly too.  Then he would make the simply things fun.  He taught us how to skip rocks in the lake and that fun is what you make it.  We were never indoors. 

Now that I am mother myself I try to do the same things for my children.  I take them outside and show them there are many things explore just outside our doors.  My children love to go outside and play and I love that.  However, I see due the changes in time, playing isn't the same.  Usually we are the only ones outside playing in the dirt and stuff and many of my neighbors have expressed concerned for my actions.  They feel children shouldn't play in the dirt and why aren't they in daycare.  I laugh off their words and continue to raise my kids the way I want too.  I want my children to feel the dew and see the bright blue sky.  Also most of the games are electronic and I feel that is stunting my children's imagination and creativity.  I want them to learn and be imaginative through their play not just entertained.  My husband I will send them to preschool but right now I want them to enjoy learning and playing with me.  I want to lay the foundation.