Sahail AshrafWhat About Toys?
November 24th 2006 02:51
When my baby was first born people commented all the time about how babies like the wrapping better than the gift inside. We made lots of jokes about how we could just wrap up and empty box and my daughter would be just as happy.
Little did we know just how true this common point is. Even now, at 18 months of age, my daughter spends much more time playing with empty boxes, old magazines and a crusty dishcloth than she does on toys. Toys tend to get a few minutes attention and then they're abandoned with little care. An empty jam jar with a few clothes pegs inside, however, can provide an hour of entertainment though.
My daughter loves emptying shells out of an ice-cream container then putting them back in again. She likes putting pasta shapes into a margarine dish with a hole cut out of the lid. She enjoys moving beads from one dish to another using a big spoon.
Likewise, the great outdoors provide many more hours of fun than anything I can provide indoors. There is so much to do outside: picking flowers; playing in the mud; splashing through a puddle; chasing the cat (much to the cat's horror!); throwing a ball around; putting sand in a bucket - and out again; tearing bark off a tree; climbing, climbing, climbing.
Indoors I have a great little helper. Dusting, wiping, sweeping and handing me the dirty clothes to put in the washing machine are way more interesting than toys too.
It seems children are more geared towards making their way in the 'real world' than we sometimes give them credit for. Toys are great, and provide fantastic educational opporunities as well as some fun - but real life is just so much more exciting. It's so nice to see happiness gained out of the things I deem chores. If only I could enjoy unpacking the dishwasher or cleaning up spills as much as my daughter does.
Little did we know just how true this common point is. Even now, at 18 months of age, my daughter spends much more time playing with empty boxes, old magazines and a crusty dishcloth than she does on toys. Toys tend to get a few minutes attention and then they're abandoned with little care. An empty jam jar with a few clothes pegs inside, however, can provide an hour of entertainment though.
My daughter loves emptying shells out of an ice-cream container then putting them back in again. She likes putting pasta shapes into a margarine dish with a hole cut out of the lid. She enjoys moving beads from one dish to another using a big spoon.
Likewise, the great outdoors provide many more hours of fun than anything I can provide indoors. There is so much to do outside: picking flowers; playing in the mud; splashing through a puddle; chasing the cat (much to the cat's horror!); throwing a ball around; putting sand in a bucket - and out again; tearing bark off a tree; climbing, climbing, climbing.
Indoors I have a great little helper. Dusting, wiping, sweeping and handing me the dirty clothes to put in the washing machine are way more interesting than toys too.
It seems children are more geared towards making their way in the 'real world' than we sometimes give them credit for. Toys are great, and provide fantastic educational opporunities as well as some fun - but real life is just so much more exciting. It's so nice to see happiness gained out of the things I deem chores. If only I could enjoy unpacking the dishwasher or cleaning up spills as much as my daughter does.
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Comment by katyzzz
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A very nice post. I love children, you approach motherhood with great creativity and have tuned into your daughter's responses very well. I just wish I'd been as capable as you are when I was your age.
You use those household bits and pieces very creatively.
And it's good to see you and daughter sharing the chores.
She may even grow up to like them, one of my daughter's did. I think she must have been a foundling, none of my genes represented there.
Sorry I didn't get to see you earlier, this new system is a bit inhibiting. I like to give new bloggers a helping hand.
You should make contact with other bloggers having similar interests.
katyzzz
Comment by Candice
Thanks for your response and your lovely words.
It certainly makes doing the chores much easier with my daughter joining in. I guess it becomes more of a game then instead of her feeling that I'm not playing with her. She sort of took the lead with that and I just followed along.
Yes, I'll certainly try and make contact with other bloggers as much as I can. I'm pretty new to blogging having never had a go at it before now, so I'm slowly feeling my way around. Thanks for the support. It's much appreciated.