Learning about Original Play

Wow.  I've mentioned before that I absolutely love the Daily Groove from enjoyparenting.com.  It's easy to "get behind" on emails and such, but I almost always read the Daily Groove the day it comes.  Occasionally I'll get a few days behind and read 2-3 days at once.  But I ALWAYS read it. 

So back in September, Scott sent one that was more than his usual three or four paragraphs of wisdom for the day.  He linked to a video about Original Play, based on the work of Fred Donaldson, author of Playing by Heart.  It's now 4 months later, longer than I have ever kept a Daily Groove in my inbox, and I felt compelled today to take the time to watch this. 

Did I mention, wow.  Very cool stuff.

A few key statements to whet your appetite:

• "Play has skeletal, endrocine, cardiovascular, and immune system benefits."
• "The 2 best things for the COGNITIVE development of young children are TOUCH and MOVEMENT."
• "Once a person feels safe, they don't fight."
• "Mom and Dad have to let go of being Mom and Dad when they're playing."
• "In play, you never take control of another person's body."
• "Original play is about giving and receiving love, and about keeping your kids safe."

The links to the video on Original Play and instructions on how to access are all on the Enjoy Parenting website.

Seriously, take 30 minutes and watch this.  It will change your relationship with any children you have contact with, whether you are a parent, teacher, aunt or uncle, or friend. 

Then let me know what you think!  Did it impact you the way it did me?

Getting rid of "should"

Man, I love the Daily Groove from EnjoyParenting.com.  It's a quick couple-paragraph email that comes every weekday morning, takes about 2 minutes or less to read, inspiring us to be more open and loving, presenting parenting as a "win-win" situation for kids and parents. 

A few days ago they focused on eliminating "should" from your world. 

Imagine a world with no shame and blame...

This is something I've been working on the past few years.  "Should" is automatically followed by guilt, by definition.  So I've tried to eliminate the word from my vocabulary.  Either I "will" or I "won't" do whatever, but no "should" or "shouldn't."  If you think about it, "should" is just plain wishy-washy anyway.  :-) 

Extending this idea to my parenting has been illumninating.  Whenever I think my kids "should" do something, that tells me I'm not 100% committed to it.  So now I try to think before I speak, "Is this negotiable?"  If not, then I need to present it as non-negotiable, and explain why.  If it is negotiable, I just have a preference for a particular outcome, then I need to present it to my kids as such, along with my most convincing rationale.  But there is empowerment and learning in allowing them to make decisions. 

Go on...  Join me in enjoying parenting!  :-) 

The environmental impact of cloth diapers

This morning I saw a great post from Daydreaming of Cloth Diapers referring to some articles about the history of cloth vs. disposable diapers from Mothering Magazine.  Thanks for the list!  These are wonderful articles. 

It continues to amaze me how people can even question whether cloth diapers make less of an environmental impact than disposables.  Yes, it takes water and energy to wash the diapers.  The energy and water to wash the diapers after each use is roughly equal to the energy and water it takes to manufacture each disposable diaper.  Then the disposable diaper has the additional impact of the use of raw materials for each diaper, packaging, distribution, and disposal of each diaper and its packaging in a landfill. 

If there were even a real question, there would also be recommendations that people should use paper plates all the time so we didn't have to use the water and energy to run a dishwasher.  And that we should all wear disposable clothing so we didn't have to use energy for the washing machine.  Don't lose sight of common sense! 

Of course, in addition to the environmental benefits of using cloth diapers, you also have the health benefits, and cost savings, and the simple fact that they're softer on that tender skin! 

Why do "natural" and "kids" go together?

I'm guessing I'm not the only person out there who began the "all things natural" journey when I had little people to think about in addition to myself.  I was never one to put any stock in alternative medicine, organic food, or anything but the cheapest soap and shampoo.  But when I got pregnant, a friend introduced me to Bradley classes for natural birth.  In class we learned a lot about whole foods and macronutrients, discussed breastfeeding, and were introduced to cloth diapers and attachment parenting.  And, you know, a snowball rolling down hill...  the more you learn, the more you realize there is to learn! 

It was simple math to me that chemicals can be more potent in tiny bodies than in adult bodies.  But there's a lot more to it than that.  Check out this incredible summary of what chemicals are bad for kids and where they're hiding from SAFbaby.com.  PVC, BPA, GMOs - my army son would appreciate all the acronyms in the world of chemicals.  Take a closer look at your children's toys, clothes, bed, pajamas, lunchbox, lotion, and of course food.  There's an overwhelming amount of information there, but one step at a time, we can all work toward protecting our children and our planet from the ever-increasing toxins in our society. 

A new look at children's books

One of the wonderful things about this winter holiday (2 weeks off from school, having Daddy home more than usual) is that we've had a lot more time to sit down and read books with the kids.  I think we pretty much have all of our library's Magic School Bus books checked out. 

But one of the things I've noticed, is that stories I loved as a child look a little different to me now. 

In the classic Curious George Goes to the Hospital, the man with the yellow hat has to go home at night and George just sat there and cried.  Awful!  I skip that page when reading it to my kids.  :-) 

And the story of the Five Chinese Brothers is one I remember well from childhood, requesting it again and again.  It horrifies me now!  A children's story about 4 different ways to execute someone?? 

Luckily, you can't go wrong with Clifford the Big Red Dog.  [I now interrupt my typing to read The Baby Blue Cat and the Whole Batch of Cookies that my 3-year-old just brought to me. The mother cat is a lovely example of gentle parenting in this one.]

I just ordered The Warmest Place of All, a book recommended on the Attachment Parenting International website, so I'm very excited to cuddle up and read that one when it arrives.  I'm also taking a look at this list of children's books about sustainability. 

Happy reading and snuggling!