Wednesday 29 May 2013

Childhood

The amount of times that I hear people saying childhood isn't how it used to be, that the world is more of a dangerous place, that children don't get to experience the fun that we remember from our own childhood.

But really is it THAT much different these days?

Yes granted there is alot more technology, the toys are far more sophisticated and readily available, in fact children have a little too many toys.

But do children no longer enjoy the things we did as children, do they no longer like to climb trees, play in streams and have simple fun?

I would argue that, in fact the world is no different, the children are no different. What is different is the adults perspective, and the fact that people don't really see what children of today actually spend time doing.

What children really enjoy doing. They are not all sat indoors hooked up to the latest gadget all of the time.

I see children out on their bikes, sitting in the park with their friends, I see young children drawing hop scotch on the pavements with chalk.

I see children happily spending hours writing their own stories and illustrating them with detailed pictures straight from the imaginations of their innocent childhood worlds.

I see children who opt to run through fields.

Children who would rather spend time jumping through a muddy marshland, enjoying nature, finding bugs and beasties and creating their own adventures away from electronic gadgets.

I see a childhood in my own children, that you know, is not that far away from the childhood I remember.

Sometimes the best way to entertain the children, is to not entertain them at all.

Let them make their own adventures without any thing else there.


You might be surprised at how much fun you will all have, by forgetting about the mess, not worring about the potential to trip, bump or scrap knees.

Not having to take along a bag of 'stuff' to entertain and occupie the young minds. Let your children run around trusting their own instincts, learning their own limits.

The world isn't really that much of a scary or dangerous place, and everyone no matter where you live can find a open bit of space somewhere, where you can enjoy the best parts of childhood - and even when you get filthy dirty, or wet, even if you get bumped knees and torn clothes. These will be the bits that in years to come hopefully our children will remember.


 Of course, with the mud, mess, cuts and grazes you will no doubt have tears and moans and fall outs.


But you know what - thats all part of childhood too!


7 comments:

  1. I totally agree with you that children enjoy what they have always enjoyed - if only you give them the opportunity to. The difference is, imo, that whereas you used to turf them outside with a packet of sandwiches after breakfast and told them not to be late for tea, nowadays you have to be around because it's too dangerous to just let them go off for the day alone. I'm talking about pre-teens here not teenagers.

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    1. I agree, but then I don't remember being allowed too far outside until I was in my early teens so things aren't too much different, I think its a shame tho that when we have to be with children we feel we must 'entertain' them be over powering with 'stuff' even on days out to the park.

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    2. Oh this post has put a huge lump in my throat. What a truly fabulous Mum you are. Both the words AND the photos are truly inspiring.

      I love watching Aaron have moments like you have illustrated so very well above.

      Hugs, Liska xx

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    3. Thank you Liska, what a lovely thing to say :) x

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  2. Just read Rachel's comment and know exactly what she means. I had my pre teens in Tottenham... it was even rough then (think Broadwater farm etc....) and Spurs hooligans but it was safe enough that I was permanently outside and she only need call me back at meal times. Yes we lived on a balcony but I often roamed off it on my bicycle AND on my rollerskates :-)
    xx

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    1. I have always lived in the outskirts in the country so I guess its different to that of those who live in the town, my childhood was so very simular to that of my own children. Nothing was more fun than making our own adventures through woodlands.

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  3. YES!!!!! While sitting here at my computer my three year old has been up and down the stairs fetching all his toy cars. The baby bath is outside in the garden full of water, and I think he's trying out all the cars to see which ones float. Then he seems to have set up a "beach" on the garden step where all the cars are driving around next to the "sea". Out in the woods he just roams, and picks up sticks and sits and looks at spiders. I love your blog!

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