Miscellany for a Wednesday!

Last night my mom shared this article from The Atlantic about the lack of free, unstructured playtime in children’s lives. I found it fascinating to read about the increase in time that children are spending at school, doing school work, and shopping with parents and even more fascinating to read about all the benefits of something as simple as free playtime.

I think it’s kind of funny how often I read about studies that point out the benefits of time-worn, common-sense practices like eating meals together, hugging a spouse, reading to children, and sending them outside to play. It almost seems silly that we need studies to tell us these things, but I suppose we do if these habits are slipping out of our everyday lives.

As a child, I thought that one of the most fabulous things about homeschooling was the amount of playtime it afforded me* (what kid wouldn’t get behind that??), and after reading the article, I’m wondering if the hours I spent in the woods, at the park, or at home playing with my dolls are part of the reason I’m a happy adult.

(*if you worry that homeschoolers sacrifice education for play time, my post about homeschooling and efficiency may allay your fears)

I’m so thankful that I’m in a position to be able to offer that relaxed, plenty-of-time-for-play lifestyle to my own children.

Interestingly enough, I think my attitude about free play is what made me instinctively resist the sort of plan advocated in 168 Hours, where the author pretty much holds up a “mom and dad work all day while out-sourcing childcare and other household tasks” life as the ideal. I would so much rather live frugally and do my own household chores so that I can provide my children with the schedule space for exploring the world in an unstructured environment.

(because this subject is such a hot topic, let me offer two disclaimers: One, I realize that not everyone is in a situation where a parent can stay home…I am privileged to be able to do so. Two, I’m not against structure in the home or structured activities within reason…what does make me sad is the almost total loss of free time that so many children experience. When I hear about children who leave their homes at 6:30 am, return at 7:30 pm, and then have to eat dinner and do homework before bed, I almost want to cry for them.)

______________________________________

On a related note, here’s a list Sonia recently made, titled “List of fun things to do”

In order from top to bottom, complete with second-grader spelling and backwards numbers:

1. Bubls (blowing bubbles)
2. Origami
3. Play-Doh
4. Play balls (playing with the glitter balls they bought at Goodwill)
5. Roller-blad (roller blading)
6. Shine rocks (sometimes the girls wash rocks and add glitter and glaze to them)
7. Smash rocks (this made me laugh! My kids like to smash rocks with a hammer to see what they look like inside.)
8. Cut magazin (they cut pictures out of old magazines)

Numbers 9 and 10 are blank, but clearly, drawing cakes should be on there somewhere. 😉

I love this list so much…there’s not an activity on there that I’d object to (they’re pretty much all non-consumery, non-electronic activities), and it was written entirely without my input.

I think the author of that article above would be happy to see Sonia’s list. 🙂

______________________________________

Our new schedule is working out nicely so far. We’re getting enough sleep, loving life without a 4:40 am alarm clock, and enjoying having Mr. FG home in the mornings (we used the morning time on Monday to go get pumpkins together).

We’ve had a few hiccups here and there as we’ve adjusted to our lives being turned almost upside-down, but the advantages of this new routine vastly outweigh the disadvantages so far.

Plus, Mr. FG is SO much happier doing the different work that this promotion brought, and I could practically cry joyful tears over that. Yay!

Also, he got word last week that this promotion did indeed come with a raise (that was a little unclear at first), so that’s another happy thing. We’ve been talking about what exactly we’d like to do with this money, and when we get his first new-salary paycheck, we’ll sit down together and decide where it will go.

On the discussion list: things like paying down the mortgage, giving more money away, adding a bit to the grocery budget, and furthering Mr. FG’s education.

Not on the discussion list: things like more shopping, more eating out, a cable TV package, and fancy cell phones.

In other words, as usual, we’re going to try our best to use this money wisely, and we’re not going to inflate our lifestyles (although we’re not opposed to some sort-of lifestyle inflation).

Oh, and since so many of you have asked, I promise I’ll do a post on how we’re managing this new, odd schedule once we’ve had a little more time to get used to it.

______________________________________

Soon, I’m doing a giveaway from Cook’s Illustrated.

Sometimes, I kind of have to pinch myself because it’s hard to believe that I get to work with a company I adore so ardently. Oh, blogging. How I love you and the opportunities you bring my way. Mwah!

______________________________________

Today’s 365 post: Do you recognize this dress?

Joshua’s 365 post: A Sad Day