Time to Play!
Remember when you were a kid and the most important thing on your mind was what you were going to play when you got outside. “Are we playing Barbies, bike riding or walking to the store for candy before heading to the park to play ball?” There were always waves of popular activities. Basketball would be the favourite for a couple of weeks, or skipping for the girls (double dutch), building a fort was always great fun, skate boarding, roller skating/blading, street hockey (car!), and my all time summer favourite…hide-and-seek after dinner with the whole neighbourhood until it was too dark to see anymore.
I remember creating dances to Elton John songs, making up plays to perform for our parents, hop scotch, oh…and four square and hand ball!
Ah! Such great memories! And the best part was we did these things outside; regardless of the weather. There were no screens involved in the fun we created for ourselves. We were never bored.
This Canada Day weekend has reminded me of “the good ol’ days” because I have been outside playing with kids again. Actually I’ve been playing with kids and adults-who-have-discovered-their-inner-kid-again. What a blast it has been. One of the funniest moments was watching Tracy and my husband racing through hula hoops against 12 year-olds and actually believing they were winning. I may have cried in my pants a little watching that! I wish I’d remembered to take photos for you. Sorry, next time I promise!
We all know how important play is for children. Good for their development etc, but let’s not forget how important it is for us adults too. So go on, get out side and forget the yard work or garden. Just have some fun and play!
Here is a video to remind you what four square is and also how intense it could get. I’m going out side now to find some players willing to take me on!
5 Comments
Chris
Nice memories of summer “kid stuff” and a good reminder to the “big kids” to have fun too ! We also used to fish in the creek, head to the lake and snorkel for clams and treasures, hike in the hills and play “school.” I have to admit, we never played Four Square — never heard of it !! Maybe you can teach me how to play sometime !
Looks fun ! Now we just need the sun to appear sometime !! 🙂
Tracy Westerholm
I don’t know about John but I want a rematch! I swear we were creaming them by a mile. I think I cried in my panties a little too at just the thought of doing what we were doing! It was fun!
I also LOVED 4 square! One of the greatest games at school other than competative marbles! King Cobbs, steelies, peewee’s, it’s all coming back to me now! I didn’t have a Game boy or DS or DSi or playstation! We had to rely on our imagination and create our fun! Kids now get bored if there isn’t a clown and pony at every function you take them too and even that isn’t that exciting to them. Let the boys know I am getting ready for a rematch Tuesday!!!
Lisa
Tracy, do you remember how we used to play kick the can on Hoskins? you and Chris would ALWAYS make me go to the door! I have such fond memories of Hoskins. :o))
Tracy Westerholm
Kick the can was another favorite! Nikki nikki nine doors was the one we made you go to the door for, maybe that’s why I don’t ever answer my door! lol Hoskins Road was fun! Great memories on Hoskins!
s mattersdorfer
I had been away all week and then came online to catch up on my taracronica,cin reading and was excited to see the new header! Yay for a new month.
I had never known how to play 4 squares. I use to like playing catch with a football. I also liked kickball at lunch as well. Thanks for the reminder on how much fun it was to play games as a child. I still play games but they are more along the lines of catch with the dog and board games.