Those Summer Days

I can still hear the sound of red-winged blackbirdsoffers a wide variety of classes, camps, and
singing as i pulled my rusty old wagon down thelessons for children. These are generally terrific
path to the woods. When I got to "my" crabappleprograms where children learn new skills, make
tree I would unpack my wagon... a ragged blanketnew friends, and gain confidence. The difficult thing
to cover the thistles, three or four of my bestfor us, as parents, is to make choices, and be
pals (dolls and teddies), a stack of books, and asure to include as one of our primary activities,
plastic jug of Kool-Aid. And then I was set for the"down time."
afternoon. I could talk and pretend with my dolls"Down time" is for just playing, hanging-out,
until it was time to pack up the wagon and headdreaming, imagining, tinkering, and thinking. It is
home for supper.during this time that kids think of new ideas, as
That was really summer. With a loose schedule,well as figure out things about themselves and
those days were my time. In a recent FAMILYtheir abilities. Fields must lie fallow for certain
IMPACT survey, children from ages 4 to 15 wereperiods, and so must children. Down time results in
asked, "What would you like to do this summer?"richer development later on.
The overwhelming response was, "PLAY!" NotHere are a few of my favorite "down time"
one child requested more lessons, or structuredmemories:
time. It is also surprising that less than 5%- Dandelion stems curling in cold water.
mentioned any kind of a major trip or outing.- Pictures drawn in the dirt with a stick.
Over and over what the children want to do is- A tent made from a rope tied between 2 trees
play: play with friends, ride bike, shoot hoops, fly aand an old blanket.
kite, go swimming, etc.- Hopscotch.
We are so fortunate to live in a culture which