My mom, my best friend, and myself went to a local art workshop where we could choose a picture and try to reproduce it. We had a blast!
My entire family (grandparents, mother, cousins, etc.) dressed as pirates and when out on a "pirate ship" for the day. We had a wonderful time!
I come from a family who will always be young at heart. From the time I was a small child, my grandfather was always playing with me. We watched cartoons together, drank chocolate milk, created castles out of cardboard, and searched the garage for anything we could use to play games. To this day, at 86, he still has that playful spirit and finds the time and energy to do the same with my children. My mother is an art teacher. I often find myself at her house over the weekend creating new things. We love to shop at the thrift stores and find things we can make even prettier with arts and crafts. My husband is still a kid himself. He is an engineer by day, as well as an engineer of fun by night! At Christmas time he took several cardboard boxes, connected them down our curvy staircase, and allowed all the kids to slide down. He even tested it out himself to be sure it's safe (I think he enjoyed it more than the kids!) see below:
Play is important all throughout life. Not only is it healthy for ourselves to play as adults, it sets a positive example for our children, to let them know not to take life so seriously. There is definitely a time for play and a time for business, but allowing those roots of play to guide our intentions for business is what makes us a success. For example, as a preschool director I try to plan events for our children and families that I think are fun and educational. My husband designs boat lifts and is always trying to invent nifty gadgets that look sleek and do cool things for the lifts, toys if you will. These are always top sellers!
Below are some quotes I feel are an inspiration. I especially like the one by Theodore Roosevelt. If children are fulfilled they will learn there is a time for play and a time for school. They will intertwine the two as long as their teacher allows, and learning will be fun, reducing behavioral problems.
Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.
O. Fred Donaldson
Contemporary American martial arts master
Contemporary American martial arts master
You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.
Plato
Greek philosopher
427–347 BC
Greek philosopher
427–347 BC
I believe that those boys who take part in rough, hard play outside of school will not find any need for horse-play in school.
Theodore Roosevelt
American president
1858–1919
American president
1858–1919
I love your connections to play, and I can see a youthful and playful personality shining through all the pictures! Perhaps when we play, we become like children and remain connected to our younger self. I love when I meet someone in their 80's and they still seem young in spirit and playful!
ReplyDeleteI love that you and your family are young at heart, and it shows! You all did a great job with the trunk! I really enjoyed you quote by O. Fred Donaldson. It holds so much truth, children learn while playing with their friends and they are exploring things that others have shared with them. It has been countless times when a student has come to me showing me something that they’ve built or found that relates to what we are talking about.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to see that even as adults you and your family have such a great relationship. Many families are lacking this and I am happy to see that it exist still. I enjoyed reading your post and viewing your pictures.
ReplyDeleteYou all appear to have a lot of fun. Its great that as adults you all can continue to be young at heart. My co-worker participates in the trunk or treat as well and its a blast to see what us adults can come up with. I am sure there is never a dull moment in your home.
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