To Be A Child

"As we get older we long for the innocence, purity, freedom and carefree days of our youth. However, the life of a child these days is filled with schedules, academic pressures, unbelievable expectations and simply keeping up with their peers. Where has the simplicity of mud pies, lazy days and just being a child gone?"

~Mama Hen

As much as I try my hardest not to get wrapped up in the high expectations being placed on our children today, I have to admit that a parent almost has to stay abreast to what is going on within their community regarding children so that their own child may feel that they fit in amongst their peers. I loved my youth and the carefree days that went with it. I remember playing outside with dirt, sticks and my bike for hours. I try to share this with Little Chick by spending as much time outdoors exploring as possible. My fondest memories included family, laughter, and simply time spent together. Last night while looking for some fun preschool art activities to do with my daughter I came across the "What should my four year old know" section. So I clicked on it and found an absolutely wonderful site by Alicia Bayer that summed up exactly how I feel. Here is an excerpt from the article that I hope you will click on and read when you have a moment (Magical Childhood):

Alicia Bayer's list of what a four year old should know:
"She should know that she is loved wholly and unconditionally, all of the time.
He should know that he is safe and he should know how to keep himself safe in public, with others, and in varied situations. He should know that he can trust his instincts about people and that he never has to do something that doesn't feel right, no matter who is asking. He should know his personal rights and that his family will back them up.
She should know how to laugh, act silly, be goofy and use her imagination. She should know that it is always okay to paint the sky orange and give cats 6 legs.
He should know his own interests and be encouraged to follow them. If he could care less about learning his numbers, his parents should realize he'll learn them accidentally soon enough and let him immerse himself instead in rocket ships, drawing, dinosaurs or playing in the mud.
She should know that the world is magical and that so is she. She should know that she's wonderful, brilliant, creative, compassionate and marvelous. She should know that it's just as worthy to spend the day outside making daisy chains, mud pies and fairy houses as it is to practice phonics. Scratch that-- way more worthy."

The article goes on to give a list about what parents of a four year old should know. It is so worth reading as a reminder of what is truly important. I think we all can get so wrapped up in the "expectations" that are placed on us all in today's world. If we can just get back to making mud pies in the dirt and collecting pretty rocks and leaves we would all find a little more peace in this fast paced society we are living in. I would love to "slow down" a bit and smell the roses. Time has a way of flying by and the time for being a child is getting shorter and shorter.