Child's Play Is Hard Work
It was only a generation ago that we were playing jacks, jumping on pogo sticks, and defending tree forts. Apparently, however, the drugs took their toll on our collective memory, and the New York Times informs us that these quaint activities are as alien to today's parents and kids as, well, aliens. Joan Almon, coordinator of a play advocacy group, says:
These kind of games, including tag, have practically died out.
Fortunately, professional help is at hand. A cottage industry of instruction has sprung up around the ancient art of being a kid, with play conferences, courses on how to play, and leagues for activities like kickball and tag. Books, too, like "The Dangerous Book for Boys," which shows how to build a tree house, fold a paper airplane and skip stones, and is currently No. 2 on Amazon's sales ranking.
Huh. I must live among Luddites, because I see plenty of evidence -- bike riding, hopscotch,
scavenger hunts, swings -- of old timey play. Then again, it's a different way of life here in Westchester County.
Putting the Skinned Knees Back Into Playtime [New York Times]
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