As the rain poured down today the kids broke into little squeals of laughter. P had just come back from school and was still in her uniform. Excitedly she came up to me and said can I get wet a little? I still have to change my clothes. So off she went to drench herself in the downpour. 

She splashed in the muddy puddles and danced around in the rain happily. I asked her to wear a shower cap coz it had become pretty cold and I din’t want her to catch it. She happily agreed coz at least she was getting to wet herself. After some splashing and dancing she went in to change. But it wasn’t over there. She wanted more! So her cousin and she got pots and pans from their pretend play and placed it in the rain to make a fountain! (In the pic) They even placed a small sieve on top saying the water will get filtered. They created a simple fountain with cascading water and a filteration system 😀. And they were so happy with it. 

These little things give kids so much joy. More than any expensive toy would give them. I still remember when A was born I bought a really expensive doll house for P as a gift. I thought she would really like it because she loves pretend play. But she lost interest in it so soon that I was a little annoyed also. I kept feeling I spent a bomb on that toy and she doesn’t even touch it. Thankfully A enjoys playing with it now (phew!)

Instead of engaging our kids in a 100 activities I always feel free play is a better option. So many people are after academic excellence and sports excellence for their kids at this tender age, that it annoys me. Why can’t we just let them be kids! Kids are meant to play and enjoy their childhood. Not run pillar to post satisfying their parents’ ambitions! I agree there might be an art form or maybe a sport which if taught to a child from childhood will be good for them. But then limit it to that. Don’t make the poor kids run around in 10 different activities. Maybe 1 or 2 days of class in a week is necessary for those.