CHILDREN who spend their childhoods playing look different from children who spend their childhoods plugged in to the electronic mastermind of a crass culture.

Children fed by their mothers look different from children fed by food-processing companies and fast food outlets.

Children who have fathers look different from children who have no fathers, or who have fathers and stepfathers.

Children who have free time look different from children who spend all day in organized routines.

                                                                                    — Comments —

Espresso writes:

There’s nothing better than the glow of a child who spent an afternoon scampering outdoors with friends, hair tangled and muddy clothes meant for the “before” shot in a detergent commercial.

Kimberly writes:

Babies who are breastfed look differentfrom children who are not. They have smoother, creamy skin without rashes, and even if they have the big, chubby cheeks, breastfed cheeks are strong and perky, while bottlefed cheeks are flabby. Of course, the sad excuse for breastfeeding that our culture has accepted can leave flabby-cheeks on a baby, too. But the kind of breastfeeding that only a devoted-to-the-home housewife is capable of (there are only rare exceptions) is what makes certain this difference.

Jill Farris writes:

Thank you for your simple but profound observations. It is true that children who play and sing and listen to good literature read aloud from a loving parent have a different look than those who are “plugged in” and left alone. I have experienced a wonderful eye to eye connection with children who have been treated honorably and kindly throughout their growing years. It’s hard to define but I am so glad you mentioned it!

My great joy this summer has been to introduce our ninth child (our first child to be added by adoption) to his first “real” summer away  from day care and public schooling.  He is seven and has just joined our family through the state foster/adoption system. He is experiencing the joy of slow mornings (no rushing out the door to eat breakfast at childcare), picnics in the grass, squabbles with siblings (because they are playing together and not being entertained by electronic media), camping out and (let’s not forget one of the joys of childhood) a bit of boredom. I have seen this little boy visibly relax more each day. What a joy it is to shoo him out the door into the summer sunshine as I tell him, “Run and play. I’m here. I love you. Enjoy God’s world.”

Laura writes:

Thank you for writing. You are right. Boredom is crucial to the normal and healthy development of a child. Without boredom, a child cannot become receptive to new experiences. A child who has not been bored enough looks different from a child who has. The first child looks emptier and more restless. By boredom, I mean empty time, not the boredom of always doing menial and mindless things. Empty time leads to inner fullness.

Please follow and like us: