Where Have they All Gone

 I was out for a hike with my sister yesterday in Cookstown just north of Newmarket. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, lawns were covered in the last of the Autumn leaves-everything was a perfect shade of yellow.  

As we walked, we passed many parks with complete play structures, lots of open spaces to run and play all surrounded by the wonder of nature. Sadly, there was not a child in sight. Not at the parks, not on the sidewalks, not on the lawns of homes. Not a single child for the whole three hours that we walked.

This is not an isolated observation, I see it near my home, by the daycare, just about everywhere I go.

Where have all the children gone? It seems apocalyptic.

I was born in 1960. We were street children. We played outside until we heard our father's whistle for us to come home and that was well past sunset. We were exhausted, filthy, hungry but oh so very happy.

We had no electronics, no I pads, no computers, no cell phones and very little TV time. 

We played street games, tag, freeze tag, skipping rope, hide and seek, war ......

There was no time to be bored. We built forts, snowmen, and had picnics. On the weekends our parents packed us into the station wagon with the coolers and portable BBQ in tow and off we went to the local parks to meet family and friends.

Later on my dad bought a cottage and that was another place to adventure.

My late brother enjoyed it most, boating, fishing, jumping off the peer....

We were children embracing the wonders of childhood and play.

So I have to ask the parents of today, where are you children? If not outside exploring the wonders, then where?

Still Here!

Dear Gentle Readers :)

Thank you for your concern with my absence from posting on this blog. Believe me it's not from a lack of wanting but rather from trying to etch out a few minutes to devote myself to sharing my thoughts.

My mother used to tell me that the older you get the faster time moves. She was right. The days buzz by so quickly I often forget to eat or pause for a cup of coffee.

Life with the children at Reggio Kids is a whirlwind. Every day brings new experiences as they continue to amaze us with their competencies. 

My last post was about my grandson-sadly our time together at Reggio Kids is at an end as he moves on to Junior Kindergarten-a large adjustment for us both. Two peas in a pod is what we have been for almost four year.

I release him into the larger community in hopes that the next phase of his life journey will bring him great joy, adventure, friendships and an incredible school life.

As for Reggio Kids, what's next?

I continue my never ending quest for new way of engaging the hundred languages of children-searching for new equipment, loose parts to add to our studio and classrooms, creating deeper meaning in our daily work and focusing most of all on our relationships with the children and each other. This is what fuels all that we do.

I wish you all an incredible school year!