Let Kids Be Kids...

June 02, 2018

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Let kids be kids...

It seems obvious, right?

Well, when life gets busy, or you just cleaned the kitchen and want it to stay that way, it's easy to forget this concept and focus more on keeping things clean or preventing madness with a big mess.

While on a playdate earlier today, I was talking with a dear friend about this concept. While we were talking, my younger son (just turned 4) took two cups of ice water -- both more than half-full -- and started experimenting. He started to pour one cup into the other and we both watched as water and ice started to slowly flow everywhere -- on the table, the chair, the floor, etc. His only response was a slow, soft, "Uh-oh," as he continued to pour the cup and watch the result. We couldn't help but chuckle as his reaction didn't cause him to stop. He just kept doing it, ha! In that moment (and many others recently), I've tried to make a conscious effort to just let him (and his brother) do what he's doing and see what happens. It's all in the name of science, right?! Ha!

All of this came about after seeing an inspirational video that's been floating around the internet lately. I saw it a month or two ago and it's been on my mind ever since. It was taken from a speech by Neil deGrasse Tyson about how kids are born scientist -- if we let them be, they'll explore...

Being a homeschool family, I feel that this video speaks VOLUMES and should be a reminder to us all to let kids be a kids and just let them explore the world around them. They learn so much by doing so!

Whether it's by taking a nature walk and letting kids play in the dirt while observing the animals around them and seeing what happens in the local creek, taking a toy apart to see what's inside, or making a mess in the kitchen and playing with ingredients...we need to step back and let them explore...

Here's my little guy checking out some of the local wildlife while on a hike...

I think with the upcoming school year, my hope is to make this a larger focus...

One of the main ways I plan to do so is by encouraging more nature walks. If you're interested in doing the same, here are a few fantastic resources to use while doing so!