Hands-on play: still beating high-tech hands-down?

As far as play is concerned, I've always tried to say yes to my children, however elaborate, crazy, messy or parentally time-consuming their ideas might be.

This week alone they've wanted to:


build a den - which turned into a fairy grotto...

make a fresh batch of play dough which became a special treat for Snuffy the bear...

concoct a superhero-creating potion from kitchen store cupboard basics...

show each other new cycling routes around the park...

play Pictionary...

lay out a huge train track - which is still taking up the entire floor of their room...

...and to design me a new hat at Daisy's boutique.

Whether they want to get out all their books to design a road system, to put on a show with props and costumes, to carry out a science experiment involving many different liquids or to make light-sabers - I try to say yes. I do this because every day they come up with these fabulous ideas is a day that their imaginations and creativity are still flowing. 

   

   

It's a day when they are not screen-fixated; inert and reliant on another's creativity for their entertainment. I know these playful, energetic days are numbered. I sense the lure of technology, I see their excitement and enjoyment of screen-based games. Of course they already have their share of screen-time; they watch TV occasionally, we love a good film and we have just bought a Wii, for example. But we will not just give up and give in to the screen. We have strict rules about how much TV and computer time they get. I'm desperate for play in the real world, in real time, to be their default activity for as long as possible. 

I like to think that their ability and desire to still be brilliantly imaginative in their play is, in part, due to them knowing that we have always tried to say yes, and that we always will. Long live hands-on play.