It’s quite a trick when April starts with Happy Easter and April Fool’s on the same day but there’s no trick when it comes to fun and learning because the brain’s favorite way to learn is PLAY! Start A-pril with a-play of the day. Check out the calendar below and then come back for more…
A child’s play with sticks is nothing to shake a stick at. Around the world, kids play with sticks, another example of how kids make a toy of anything. The humble stick and how kids use it in their play may make us wonder why we invest in toys.
Although we might cringe, kids do and will play with sticks. There is no doubt that play with sticks involves risks. We need to monitor the situation so kids can stay safe while they learn how to manage risks.
Sticks can be used for a variety of actions, like walking, stirring, digging, splashing, reaching, dragging, and making marks. A stick is a sort of magic wand unless it’s a fishing rod, lightsaber, galloping horse, bridge across an alligator-infested swamp or anything else kids choose.
Speaking of bridges, a stick bridges the real world and that of the imagination. It’s both a real, natural item as well as a fantasy one. A plain, ordinary stick might scratch a road for cars in the dirt, or it may vanquish a fierce dragon. It might be a home for a tiny bug, or even harder to see, a magical fairy.
A stick not only encourages the imagination, it also challenges and strengthens ordinary muscles and coordination. In a way, it’s an extension of an arm, so kids have to learn how to move it and themselves. Holding a stick is quite sensory. The bark may be rough or smooth, and not only is the texture different, so is the weight, depending on the length and thickness of a stick.
Two sticks can tap out a rhythm or a secret code. A child’s play with sticks may also encourage lots of language, as kids talk and explain.
Stick play can be controversial, not only because of the risk of being hurt. This is a story I’ve written about before:
Yes, some kids will turn a stick into a gun. This kind of play is controversial. One little boy who wasn’t allowed toy guns at home was playing with one at a friend’s. When his parents came, he reassured them “I’m pretending it’s a stick.”
Despite the risk factors, child’s play with sticks is empowering. Kids can choose from an unlimited amount of possibilities how they play with sticks. A stick is passive until the child’s action makes it come alive. Do you allow stick play for your child?
Nature play with sticks is another way for kids to “go wild for nature.” While adults cringe, they may be some of nature’s most amazing toys. Because there is some risk, extra supervision might be needed.
Playing with sticks appeals to kids all around the world. A stick is like a bridge that goes from the real world to the world of our imaginations. From nature to fantasy. A stick can be a sword to fight dragons or a digger to scratch a road in the dirt. A pole for a blanket fort or a magician’s wand, a stick has unlimited possibilities. It might be a home to ants, beetles, or fairies.
(Yes, some kids will turn a stick into a gun. This kind of play is controversial. One little boy who wasn’t allowed toy guns at home was playing with one at a friend’s. When his parents came, he reassured them “I’m pretending it’s a stick.”)
Because kids can use a stick in so many ways: to build, to make marks, to stir mudpies they feel empowered. With a stick, a child doesn’t just observe nature passively, but interacts very actively. On a simple outing in a natural area, kids will pick up sticks. Finding out just the right size for walking is only a beginning.
If possible, after finding a stick, encourage kids to take a good look and maybe ask a few questions.. Is there bark on it? Any bumps or cracks? Check out the sides and the ends. Any guesses where the stick came from? Look all around. It’s tricky to match sticks to trees but some kids are keen naturalists.
Sticks are more than toys. They are a gift from nature. Kids might be able to help gather sticks for a campfire. Peel a fresh one for making hotdogs. What other ways can kids enjoy nature play with sticks?
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