From: Jean Hildreth <jhildreth>
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:51:52 -0600

A thought regarding these "old chestnuts" and the newer book versions of childhood activities from a more innocent time: Yes, they present a world of less structured, more child-created activities than many children are experiencing today. But equally important is the fact that they 1.) allow for unstructured time in the lives of our children, and 2.) nurture the natural imagination and creativity which allow a child to use that time to grow in an entirely different way, one seemingly incomprehensible to the average adult. (We used to call it having time "to watch the grass grow.") And the difference between the super-structured, lesson-oriented, plugged-in, turned-on, always "busy" kids and those with the "old chestnut" books and do-it-yourself creative ideas is often the difference between the kid who is "bored" when faced with free time and the kid who is delighted and entranced with some time and space to create his/her own diversions and learning.

I say, "Bravo!" to books like "The Dangerous Book for Boys" and "The Daring Book for Girls." What might also be needed is some caring and wise adult who will take the time to read aloud even a chapter or so to a curious kid. Just to open the door...


~Jean Hildreth Luxemburg-Casco Middle School
Received on Tue 26 Feb 2008 12:51:52 PM CST