I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about the importance of creative play in early childhood and about how best to foster it within our days. Ironically, I probably do not have to think about this at all--it is likely that my own mother did not and I spent endless hours as a child immersed in worlds I dreamed up on my own. During long car trips, I would fly one or both of my hands out of the window, picking up various passengers on my fingers. Those passengers would occasionally have to double up on the fingers if things were cramped; sometimes they would get angry (and even physical!) with one another. I played with Fisher Price Little People long after my peers put away their toys for other modes of entertainment. I held on to this creative play until well into my junior high years. While I finally put away my Little People (I can still clearly remember the last time I played with them), I continued to play out imaginary scenarios involving dreamed up characters for a long time afterward.
Norah has been playing creatively for quite some time now. She sings to her dolls, talks to them and reads to them; she has just recently though been adopting characters. "You be the doctor," she will say or "I am the grandma." I have to say that I do not think there is much that gives me more satisfaction as a mother--not Norah eating her broccoli or Harvey starting to talk. I simply love hearing my child invent worlds right before me.
As a consumer, I am tempted to buy her "instruments" (costumes, for example) to foster this kind of thinking. As a thinking person, I know that I do not need to make purchases in order to nurture my daughter in this way. In fact, the very act of purchasing items for creative play is somewhat antithetical to the concept and could even hinder the play. So, I have been looking around our house for everyday items that Norah (and Harvey soon!) that Norah can play with and today I started gathering some clothes for a dress-up basket that will have its home downstairs amongst the other toys.
P.S. I may still have to buy her this. I know, I can't help myself.
2 comments:
Hell, *I* want that skirt! I think you're totally on point. And I believe that so long a child's play is creative and non-directive, one can supplement with all kinds of things, namely an adorable tulle skirt (which you should do as your first sewing project!)!
What you've described is what I aspire to do for Griff, but I feel like I always fall short. In reading what you've written, though, I think I'm appreciating that you can't "sell" it to them - they are experts all on their own! It's difficult sometimes to resist the urge to constantly be "doing".
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