THE NEW DOMESTICITY
the
NEW DOMESTICITY
1
The
of
Childhood
By Julianna Lawson
It’s likely that you and I grew up in the same neighborhood.
Well-chosen books often inspire such creativity, as do other story-driven media. Even older children, if given the opportunity, will respond to such inspiration. Once, after watching the movie “Emma,” my daughter designed a little phaeton using the piano bench (her buggy), a chair (the horse) and some yarn (the reins). With a long dress and perky bonnet, she looked the very picture of a Jane Austen heroine.
One of the things I most loved about growing up in this neighborhood was the “make believe” it inspired. After watching an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” my sister, brother and I invariably recreated whatever it was we had just seen. If the neighborhood had learned about music, we’d make instruments out of oatmeal tubs and rubber bands. If the neighborhood had learned about the local bakery, we’d pull out the playdough so we could create pastries, doughnuts, and muffins. And if our fancy ran with a story from the magical “neighborhood of make-believe,” then out came the puppets.
Similarly, my sister and I once transformed our bedroom into a prairie cabin. We were probably in middle school, but it never occurred to us that our play might have seemed childish to those who weren’t obsessed with Laura Ingalls Wilder. So, by day we donned handmade bloomers and dresses, eating meager meals of soup and biscuits, and by night we swished around in flowing nightgowns and read by candlelight. It remains one of our favorite childhood memories.
You know the one: it had a tall red brick building, a bright yellow bakery, a lavender music shop, and a two-story brown apartment building. Perhaps it doesn’t yet sound familiar? Well, every weekday a big yellow school bus and a shiny red trolley passed by. Oh, and our favorite neighbor? He lived in the little yellow house at the end of the street. His name was Mister Rogers.
We didn’t realize the value of such play when we were young. Fred Rogers himself said that “play is really the work of childhood.” This work of childhood is developmentally essential. It helps the child make sense of the world around him and his place in that world. This month, we’ll look at the fundamental role this work plays in a child’s exploration, expression, and preparation.
EXPLORATION
Play allows the child to explore her universe, whether real or imagined. Anything is possible in this world. One of my kids’ favorite early readers was “Little Bear” by Else Holmelund Minarik. If you’re familiar with Little Bear, you can probably picture him taking a trip to the moon. Naturally this involves a helmet made of cardboard and wire. Readers don’t question Little Bear’s sanity when he lands on the “moon,” (which is really just his own little forest). Rather, we see this as a form of exploration that any child—bear or otherwise—would enjoy.
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EXPRESSION
Play also gives the child a safe place in which to express ideas, emotions, and personality. I recently sat at a table with a group of 6-year-olds, each of whom was given a plate of “slime.” It was fascinating to observe the various ways in which the children approached this irresistible Borax and glue concoction. Some interacted with other children, shouting, “Look at this!” as the goo ran through their fingers. Others were much quieter as they handled the quivering blob, analyzing its various responses to pressure and lifting and plopping. Another recent play interaction gave me the privilege of entering into the world of a preschooler with autism. I quickly observed that this child was very deliberately creating order. Cars lined up, blocks matched, kitchen pieces were sorted. It became an ideal way for us to communicate non-verbally with one another as we ordered items one by one and found reassurance in the rhythm of the expected.
Vancouver Family Magazine • www.vancouverfamilymagazine.com • August 2017
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