While Ethan's here, we will go out back with the tractor and get a Christmas Tree to lash to one of the clothes line poles and set up the bird feeders for winter. I think I blogged last year how the bird feeder looks like a Nativity and the birds flutter around like Angels adding real life to the Christmas tree. We really enjoyed that and can't wait to get it up. We have a old wagon wheel that we can turn into a wreath if we have time. It is about four feet across and will weigh a ton when we get brush on it so we are still thinking about how to fasten it to the wall or maybe one of the big fence posts.
We have to get started on Christmas presents for the grandkids. It is harder to make gifts than it is to buy them and it is hard to compete with all the digital falderall that is available, but most toys turn a child's attention in towards it, instead of turning the imagination loose. When Ethan, Emma, and Alex come here, there are three main attractions: the huge dirt pile, the huge sand pile and sticks. The dirt pile is a climbing adventure, the sand is used to make roadways and piles for a few very old toy trucks (discards from someones toy collection) and the sticks can be swords or guns or can be piled into forts or other useful structures. Sticks can also be used to pound on our abundent supply of big rocks either before, after or during climbing on the rocks.
We don't have TV or video anything available here and they know it. They ask if the can go outside and play. Most parents would kill to get their kids outside and playing by themselves and yet continue to buy videos and video games adnauseum. We simply make it boring inside and interesting outside. When the kids are here, we continue to work at whatever and if the kids find that interesting, we let them help. (Yes, this usually makes things go slower- but not always and we could reap great benefits from this as they get older.) When they get here, we find some chores for them to do, and then only after they accomplish them, we turn them loose outside. We are outside too and can keep an ear or an eye on them occasionally. As they adjust to being in charge of themselves, they are allowed to go to areas of the farm alone. How they handle this freedom determines how much they get. They tend to be very cautious about going out of your sight. It is great when we have two grandkids, because they are more willing to go places without you. Boys can turn most activities dangerous for themselves or one of the smaller farm animals after about twenty minutes and it is best to check often. When we send them home the are usually in a state of exhaustion and completely covered in dirt, head to toe.
It is interesting to watch their universe expand as they learn to take care of themselves independently. The little ones stay close instinctively and around five or six they will make short excursions. At seven, you have to set limits. How much freedom they get, is dependent on how well they stick to their agreements.
Anyway, we think the farm is great for the kids and the kids are great for the farm. Grandparenting is way easier than parenting and I feel sorry for anyone trying to be a parent now. We can get away without a TV and video games and parents really can't and have to do the best they can to balance things. We don't have to balance anything and the chores here are real and useful and the freedom is controlled and as safe as it can be. All very good for kids.
So true!
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