It doesn't take a genius to understand that it is vital to buy educational toys so that your child can play with the box! I have spent a lot of money on all sorts of wonderful boxes for my children to spend delightful hours in! But having these amazing toys allows my childrens parents to relive their childhoods. I have to admit there are some pretty amazing educational toys that I have had to relinquish to a child once the box adventure ended and the toy remained.
While to a parent a box is to be discarded the same box to a child presents hours of adventure to imaginary and exciting destinations. The basics of life, which we take for granted, a child will spend delighted hours studying and testing. What an adult may take for granted as a means to an end will captivate a child's interest and investigation.
My kids as toddlers were all fascinated with gates. Who would've thought that a gate could give so much pleasure. Living on a homestead the children quickly learn to love animals. The problem being that an enthusiastic toddler is easily trained by innocent looking and opportunistic animals to merrily open gates.
Albert Einstein said: "Play is the highest form of research" And how much we adults should never forget the fun element to living. To truly appreciate life and experience wonder in the mundane one need only be in the presence of children. Having a small child always with you in the daily routine can be tedious but that little brain is working hard to file away all the information. Life certainly is a greater teacher than any fancy school and curriculum. My children amaze me by their understanding, compassion and ability.
Children connect all the elements of their life as they play. Their remarkable little brains are making all the connections and storing away information that is critical for their developing personality. Play is essential for creativity. It is also how they learn to interact with the world around them.
While, yes, I am excited that my eldest is excited about showing us his ABC and how much 1 and 1 adds up to, it is so much more important that they learn when they are ready. And that it is always FUN. When education becomes a chore what is the point? If learning does not stimulate joy then why pursue it? To all you adults out there. Don't forget the wild abandoned joy of living!! Don't allow society to box you. And don't steal the joy of life from a child because you think they need to conform to be like everybody else. When we are all unique and long to be unique why settle for fitting in to a one-size-fits-all mold.
When disapproving grandparents or neighbours frown on the dirty little fingers in the food preparation or the tools that have become toys then I whip off my shoes, let down my hair and grab a few empty boxes.....Perhaps we should learn from a little child and play with cardboard boxes.
