Comments on: Imaginative and Non-Toy Play http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/07/29/imaginative-and-non-toy-play/ The life and thoughts of spunky, funky, little punkie Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:10:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Mary http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/07/29/imaginative-and-non-toy-play/#comment-10366 Mary Sun, 19 Aug 2007 03:35:49 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/07/29/imaginative-and-non-toy-play/#comment-10366 I totally agree with your post. My children have great imaginations, but I noticed this past month that they were having a hard time coming up with things to do and it dawned on me that we had been watching a lot of videos. We have not watched any TV or movies in the past 3 days and I noticed a big difference in their play in just that short amount of time. They were back outside for several hours today finding all kinds of creepy crawlies to bring inside as "pets". Ick! They also created a jungle in their bedrooms. I also noticed their conversation continualy turns to the movies they have been watching rather than real life events anytime they watch a screen. I am cutting back to once a week max. - family movie night and maybe less. Now if I can just make myself turn off the computer more often. LOL. I am working on it. I totally agree with your post. My children have great imaginations, but I noticed this past month that they were having a hard time coming up with things to do and it dawned on me that we had been watching a lot of videos. We have not watched any TV or movies in the past 3 days and I noticed a big difference in their play in just that short amount of time. They were back outside for several hours today finding all kinds of creepy crawlies to bring inside as “pets”. Ick! They also created a jungle in their bedrooms.

I also noticed their conversation continualy turns to the movies they have been watching rather than real life events anytime they watch a screen.
I am cutting back to once a week max. - family movie night and maybe less.

Now if I can just make myself turn off the computer more often. LOL. I am working on it.

]]> By: crunchymama http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/07/29/imaginative-and-non-toy-play/#comment-10132 crunchymama Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:30:12 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/07/29/imaginative-and-non-toy-play/#comment-10132 I also read Last Child in the Woods and it was very eye opening. I didn't have cable tv growing up and we played outside, built forts and created our own stories. Its amazing how easily we can zone out in front of the boob tube. I hope our children will at least be tv-free but I having very few/no toys is a great idea too! I also read Last Child in the Woods and it was very eye opening. I didn’t have cable tv growing up and we played outside, built forts and created our own stories. Its amazing how easily we can zone out in front of the boob tube. I hope our children will at least be tv-free but I having very few/no toys is a great idea too!

]]> By: Kristy http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/07/29/imaginative-and-non-toy-play/#comment-9998 Kristy Tue, 31 Jul 2007 19:31:33 +0000 http://www.hippiemommy.com/2007/07/29/imaginative-and-non-toy-play/#comment-9998 I SO agree with you. It is really sad to see my daughter, who is only 3, TRY to play with her peers. They just do what the toys ask them to do and my daughter gets so bored. She tries to get them to be imaginative with her and go in search of treasure, etc. but they just don't "get it". My daughter has a ton of toys (thanks to well-meaning grandparents) but she really prefers to make up her own games and be imaginative. Most of our toys are not used on even a weekly basis, other than the play kitchen and blocks and dress up clothes! They get their fill of play time! I also see a direct correlation to how scheduled a child's day is with activities outside the home and how well developed their imagination is. All the art, dance, music, etc. classes cannot replace free play time. My kids get lots of it and it shows! I love your blog and look forward to reading some of your recommended books! I SO agree with you. It is really sad to see my daughter, who is only 3, TRY to play with her peers. They just do what the toys ask them to do and my daughter gets so bored. She tries to get them to be imaginative with her and go in search of treasure, etc. but they just don’t “get it”. My daughter has a ton of toys (thanks to well-meaning grandparents) but she really prefers to make up her own games and be imaginative. Most of our toys are not used on even a weekly basis, other than the play kitchen and blocks and dress up clothes! They get their fill of play time!

I also see a direct correlation to how scheduled a child’s day is with activities outside the home and how well developed their imagination is. All the art, dance, music, etc. classes cannot replace free play time. My kids get lots of it and it shows!

I love your blog and look forward to reading some of your recommended books!

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