Your cart is currently empty!
Our Kids Deserve Quality Playtime
My two boys raced around the small pond, nets at the ready, their feet slipping on the rocks. They had one goal in mind: catching tadpoles. This little oasis was known for having the best tadpole hunting in the area. My 6-year-old paused, tilting his head as if he could hear the tiny creatures beneath the surface. Then, with a swift motion, his net swooped down. “I got some!” he shouted, excitement bubbling over. “I’ve got one, two, three, four! Come look!” He dashed across the rocks, proudly presenting his catch. “Just remember to let them go soon,” I reminded him. “They need to breathe!”
He continued to catch more, and surprisingly, even my 4-year-old managed to snag a few. My youngest, just 2 years old, flailed his net with sheer determination and managed to catch three tadpoles of his own. I mostly watched, chiming in with delighted exclamations as they showed off their finds. At one point, Blaise caught a froglet, complete with legs and a tail, and soon enough, they were passing it around. I was on a conference call and didn’t realize what was happening until they thrust the creature in front of me, legs sprawled out and belly pale. “Oh! Wow, that’s a frog!” I exclaimed. “Fantastic. Now, why don’t you let it go in the pond? Please get it away from me now!”
While a school curriculum would label this as a science lesson, I’d argue it was simply good old-fashioned play. Sure, the kids learned a tad about frogs and tadpoles, but more importantly, they reveled in the joy of catching them. Children need this kind of unstructured play. Nowadays, we seem to have swapped mud and water for organized activities like soccer leagues. In doing so, we’ve stripped away a vital part of childhood: the freedom to play.
After our froggy adventure, we ventured to another section of the park where a rocky dam created a perfect wading spot. I dipped my toes into the water while the dog opted to sit this one out. But the kids? They were in their element. They splashed around, digging in the sandy bottom and searching for rocks. Blaise even climbed up a rock above the waterline and discovered a snail, which brought both thrill and dread—my husband is always cautioning them about parasites!
But the snail didn’t stop them; they waded upstream under the birch trees, pretending to excavate dinosaur bones from the bank. By the time we left, they were caked in mud, their pants soaked through. I stripped them down before buckling them into the car, trying to save my seats from the inevitable mess. I thought that was just part of being a good mom.
We also let our kids get messy in other ways. My husband has a fascination with carnivorous plants, a passion he’s passed down to our boys. They diligently pour rainwater into their Venus flytraps and hunt for flies for their pitcher plants. But inevitably, when they’re outside tending to the plants, it turns into a water fight. Blaise claims he doesn’t know how the hose turns on, but somehow it always does. Soon enough, they’re drenched from head to toe, forming and breaking alliances in their watery battle, while I watch from the porch, warning them to keep the water far away from me.
They come in through the laundry room, where I strip them of their clothes—shoes, shirts, shorts, and even their underwear. They always return coated in leaves, twigs, and dirt. I shuffle them straight to the tub, where they splash a little too enthusiastically and end up having to get out. And guess what? I’m left with a tub to clean.
It’s alarming how many kids today are overscheduled. Do they get to play like we did, not just once in a while but regularly? How many children miss out on the simple joys of childhood—screaming, getting dirty, and making a mess? Do busy parents and tightly packed schedules rob kids of experiences like tadpole hunting and wading? What adventures remain unexplored? What mud puddles are left untouched?
This weekend, find your local spot for tadpole catching. Equip your kids with nets, pack a blanket, and settle under a tree. You’ll be amazed at how much joy it brings them. After two and a half hours, my kids were still begging to stay. You’re in for a memorable afternoon. You’re in for some serious play!
For more insights on parenting and home insemination, check out this excellent resource.
Summary
In an era where children’s playtime is often overshadowed by structured activities, the author emphasizes the importance of unstructured play, like catching tadpoles and splashing in muddy waters. The narrative highlights how such experiences contribute to childhood joy and learning, urging parents to encourage play beyond the confines of schedules and organized sports.