Encouraging children to explore their wild side is the shocking title of a Times Union review of Chris Mercogliano’s book, “In Defense of Childhood: Protecting Kids’ Inner Wildness.”
I finally read this article at about midnight after spending the day picking up after kids who were pursuing their inner wildness. I gotta tell you, there is something to be said for parking them in front of some mind-numbing TV. They can get plenty of exercise waving the Wii controls.
Sure, I love that the kids are imaginative and creative. But, do they need to cover the house and yard with their creations? Today’s highlights included exploding cat-tail fights countered with a torrential water hose defense. Our yard may never recover. Certainly, the local frogs and worms that escaped the mighty hunters will be cowering for awhile. And I can guarantee that there will be cat-tail grass growing all over the neighborhood next Spring.
Staff writer Paul Grondahl asks “Where are today’s Tom Sawyers and Pippi Longstockings?” Well, I don’t know but don’t go giving my kids any bright ideas. I don’t want them going on unsupervised boat rides or brush-skating on my hard wood floors. They make enough messes as it is.
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Denise 09.27.07 at 9:48 am
I found Pippi, she lives with me:)