Michael's house, where he is the host of many, many parties! Only sweets are served at these parties, by the way.
"Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play."
Montaigne, Essays
Over the past few weeks I have noticed this tremendous change in Michael's imagination. It's truly incredible to observe and participate in his imaginative play. On the days that he spends with the sitter, Michael and the other children play "house" all day long with blankets, rugs, pillows, and whatever else they can get their hands on to create these elaborate homes. Thankfully, the sitter loves this type of play as much as Josh and I do. Michael does this at home, as well. Our dining room table is frequently turned into a home for his "babies": Moo, Giraffe, and Puppy. (Creative names, eh?!)
This morning we spent the majority of our time playing and walking at the park. Michael brought his babies, Moo and Giraffe along for the adventure. The babies were thrown in the grass at times, but they were also taken up and down the slides and the climbing walls. At times, we had to stop and feed the babies after Michael found the appropriate food source for the babies. (Mulch just wouldn't cut it, his babies eat grass and drink water.)
When we got home, Michael and I enjoyed our lunch at the dining room table, while we discussed the party that he was going to host in his tent. I put his tent up in his room last Thursday, and naturally it has become Michael's home where he hosts these incredibly elaborate parties and serves his guests lots and lots of junk food. Last evening, I heard him talking to his animals about Hershey Kisses, and I began to wonder where on Earth he found all of these "Kisses." I realized after he brought one to me, as I was cooking, that they were imaginary kisses, and that there wasn't this hidden stash in his room. : )
Josh and I enjoyed the parties that Michael hosted last evening, and thankfully Josh video taped a large portion of our play time. Michael baked us cookies, cakes, cup cakes, and brownies. We also made pudding together. Obviously, this boy is dreaming of sweet treats, since his mother doesn't bake for him nearly enough! And, we most certainly enjoyed the company of his friends, Moo, Giraffe, and Puppy. It is such a gift to be invited into Michael B's world, and to watch him change right before our eyes on a daily basis.
I found this article to be quite interesting in regards to imaginary play:
"Most of your child's make-believe games will not require you to participate (or even listen). Indeed, it will probably expand your child's imagination more if you allow her to make up her own scenarios rather than offering your input. Let your preschooler create her own private world. If your child invites you to play a role, by all means join in. But take the role assigned to you and let your child control the unfolding of the plot.
Imaginative play also can help your preschooler sort out various anxieties or cope with approaching (or past) events that worry her. You may notice your child playing a lot of doctor games leading up to (or following) a stay in the hospital, for example. Or she may play more at being a parent in the wake of a new baby's arrival."
- From the FamilyEducation.com website
Lining up cars....What else is new?!?!? : )
Michael's ice cream parlour at the park. Here he is serving me vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Yummy!
As he was doing this with the stuffed animals in his hands, I thought to myself...Josh is going to kill me if he falls and breaks an arm because of carrying these things up the climbing wall! He made it safely to the top, just like I thought he would.
Taking a nap with his babies. This was towards the end of our visit. He was really ready for his nap this afternoon!
I'm so glad we took advantage of this beautiful day. It looks like it is going to be rainy and chilly over the next few days.
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