Inhibiting Play

Saturday morning: The husband let me sleep in! Would you believe it, I got out of bed at 10 o’clock (wonders never cease).  I left the comfort of the bed to find a huge pirate ship box display set up in the kitchen, equipped with half the linen cupboard to make for a sea. 

If I was up earlier, I may have stopped the children pulling out everything blue from the cupboard.  Maybe I would have asked them to set up in a different space.  Perhaps I would have freaked at the bathroom towel on the dirty broom (for the sail).  But it was already done — and it was wonderful.  I often, unwittingly, inhibit play and imagination for the sake of order and ease.

Look at the different blues the children found in the cupboard.  They weren’t being disrespectful with property or acting naughty in any way. You see, they needed a sea (of course) and were resourceful enough to find convincing materials to work with.  Thanks to my eldest daughter’s wonderful mind, the ship was not only on a sea but also equipped with sail and port holes at each side.

I’ve learnt a lot from my daughter when it comes to creativity.  Her art teacher said, “Flossie is not confined like the other children.  She dosen’t worry about being neat or staying between the lines; there’s a freedom to her work.”

I believe freedom and creativity go hand in hand.

Self portrait done last year (8 years old)

Freedom: the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints.

It’s hard to find the balance between having rules (which are important) and creating an environement that produces the freedom to be creative (which is also important).  I think one key to achieving this balance is spaces — creating spaces (watch for a post on this).  Also, FunMum Wendy’s tip comes to mind: Think like a child.  Too often, adults lose the ability to be ‘free like a child’.  Watching children play is one way to recapture this beauty.

Too often, adults lose the ability to be ‘free like a child’.

Thanks to me being up late and not imposing restrictions on the children’s play, an elaborate game was enjoyed by all, throughout the day and into the next. Lesson learnt.  Maybe I should say lesson learning.

Missed last week’s contribution?  Make Scrambled Eggs Tonight, Have Fun Tomorrow.