There can be a danger of entertaining your children…filling their time, structuring it so they are left with no freedom to explore, imagine, immerse themselves in a world that has no adult present to give boundaries or instruction.
We are very careful to try and find a balance of both.
Last week we went to the Ulster Museum. As we waited outside for my folks to arrive our girls played along the steps, through the large outdoor sculptures and jumped from the blocks. As I took pictures I marvelled at their ability to play with nothing, to create worlds and obstacle courses using the space around them.
Just kids, left to their own devices.
This day out fitted into both camps…a framework to trigger thoughts and questions but the freedom to explore and investigate more of what they were interested in through the different kid zones. The conversations that were started, questions asked to grandparents…wisdom shared.
Family…a safe place for them to find out about the world. To push the boundaries and to fit themselves into the bigger picture of life. To ask the bigger questions and those which have no answers.
It’s good to share the journey.
