Imagination is Free
If there’s anything I despise, it’s the words, “I’m bored.” We have a house filled with toys, crafts and other things to do, a driveway perfect for riding one’s bike or drawing with chalk, and an acre out back complete with swingset and sandbox.
How can a five-year-old possibly be bored? Yesterday afternoon it was pouring rain, and my son was bored.”Why don’t you build another city with your Lego.” Nope, boring. “Why don’t you crash your trucks in the hall?” Nope, boring. After a few “why don’t you’s….” I informed my son that he needed to find something to do, or I’d put him to work dusting or cleaning out drawers. Chores cure boredom everytime.
After some time I heard lots of activity going on in the family room. I heard the rustle of a cardboard box and the rattle of the crayon container. I head some rummaging around in drawers and the sound of some furious coloring. I paused from folding to laundry to look in on him and was told “I’m good Mommy, you can go to work now.”
An hour later my son came into my office. He was wearing a cardboard box and the red cape my sister made for him. He also had on a spiderman mask. “Look at me, Mommy,” he said, “I’m a robot superhero.”
An hour or so later after saving the world from the Evil Underwear Monster we sat down for some milk and cookies. We chit chatted for a while and out of the blue he said, “Mommy, my teacher said imagination is free. What does that mean?”
It means that with a house full of toys, the cardboard box wins every time.
Photo via Stock Xchnge
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POSTED IN: Around the House, Crafty Solutions, General, Simple Pleasures
3 opinions for Imagination is Free
Jennifer
Oct 20, 2007 at 9:26 am
Great post. Lately kids are so overstimulated they just seem more bored when their brains can’t go miles a minute. It makes me crazy. Imagination is free and a whole lot healthier than constant stimulation from high intensity items.
Robin Marie
Oct 30, 2007 at 7:12 am
My mom has a video of a rainy day when we were bored. She probably told my friend and I something similar (You find something to do, or I’ll find something for you), and we ended up rolling around for HOURS in an old refrigerator box in the driveway in the rain. All our toys, video games… nothing.
April
Nov 20, 2007 at 8:41 am
My son was always happy with a box, or a home made tent. The tent idea was one my Mom made for me, and my sister as children. I remember some of the happiest times were spent when my sister and I talked Mom into making us a indoor tent in our room or the front room. Even happier if we were allowed to sleep in it all night. many nights we spent laughing half the bnight away over silly things
Oh the good old days.
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