Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Own It: Build Your Own Playground

For my Five Habits of Highly Creative Teachers class, I built my own playground. My instructors encouraged me consider Dr. Stuart Brown's principles for play: purposeless, voluntary, inherently attractive, allowing freedom from time, giving a diminished consciousness of self, having improvisational potential, and having a continuation desire.

My playground includes a lake because I'm a water bug from way back. I prefer fresh water over salt and love to swim and canoe. I also love the mystery and shade of the woods, especially on horseback, and I wanted to show that horses are available for riding just outside the frame. I included a library (front and center); a giant shoe in which to cook, bathe, and rest; and some swings, of course: my favorite ride.

My instructors asked how often I'll be visiting my playground (I'm thinking I'll just move there?) and whom I'll allow to join me. I'll have many visitors (living and dead), but not at the same time, and they'll visit by invitation only. 

9 comments:

  1. Sweet!

    All it needs is some whitewater for paddling (but that's probably on the other side of the dam that backs up the lake.)

    :-)

    -Andy

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    1. Hahaha. I'm not much for whitewater! It's funny, but I used to be much braver than I am, now. Something about having all these little kids and wanting so badly to live another day to be their mama.

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  2. I'll come visit, but I have a horse that won't just enjoy walking the perimeter but one that will swim right to your house. Here we come! You DO have such a great imagination. I wish I was more like that. Dreaming.....I don't know.....maybe I'm too realistic. Makes me boring I would say. A mother such as yourself should homeschool because I know you make ALL learning an adventure. Those blessed kids

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    1. We're having a good time. I haven't been terribly creative so far, though. We do the same things pretty much every day...just chip away at it. Field trips are my FAVORITE. love you

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  3. I love this, and think Andy is right on! Whitewater! The BIG kid you've got would love it, and take to it like an otter!

    Really cool post. Oh, and field trips are the way to a student's soul!!!!

    Peace <3
    Jay

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    1. Prayers for the big kid, today. He fell, yesterday, and injured a tendon. He didn't march homecoming, last night, but is going to give it his best, today.

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  4. Hi Brandee,

    Any play park with water and hirses sounds very refreshing. So is it a real place or imaginary? I was confused.

    Re your comment on my post "When Our Lives Don't Fit the Pretty Analogies," grinning with you, Brandee, at the sand all over the floor comment. Yes, me too, literally and figuratively some times. :)

    This is a special season though, huh?

    Jennifer Dougan
    www.jenniferdougan.com

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    1. Oh, the playground is imaginary. The image is a composite of photos from places I've really visited, though. :)

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