Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Building With Nature

As our summer vacation comes to a close, the kid has become slightly bored with his arsenal of toys. Swimming wasn't an option today as the weather wasn't bad, but timing between looming dark clouds would have been a gamble. What's worse than getting your swim suits on and getting all the gear packed and the bottom falling out?

So, after a bit of Xbox and and him asking me to play Legos again, I knew I needed a distraction. I honestly can only handle Ninja Turtle and City Legos once a day. And I only do it then out of guilt. Bad mom.

The solution was a compromise of our interests. He likes building and I like doing anything outside. We set off on a hunt for building supplies on the edge of the woods. I told him he could build anything he wanted with what he found. He took off on the blaze of a12 volt powered four wheeler. I meandered behind to remind him to not crash into things.

We returned home from our journey with a grocery bag of dirty sticks, long blades of grass, and a few sprigs of bamboo he snatched from my aunt's garden unbeknownst to me. Sorry Aunt Judy.

It seems kids will let you think for them as long as you allow it. I try not to allow it. For example, he wanted to build a house first. I said okay and he could get started. But he didn't want to actually think it through, he wanted me to do it. Instead of doing it for him, I asked leading questions so he could figure it out himself. And because he created something himself he learned from the process. He gained a little critical thinking skill while also gaining a little self confidence. Real self confidence from real accomplishment.

Take a look at his cabin and his teepee. Pretty cool for a five year old.

Oh, and he learned how to whittle a stick.










No comments:

Post a Comment