The play with mommy part -long
Penn Acres
I never played Barbies with my own girls (40+ years ago).The girls played with them together upstairs
Wish I had; and a Whole !! bunch of other things I have smartened up about with my ggd,s.(age 9 now)
I havn't actually "played" "Barbie" (and lots of other imagination toys)
so much as been available, offered comments, laughed when they explained the funny things, encouraged them to have them wherever and whenever they wish-They often follow me around so they can play with them where I am.
When they were small (4 to 6) they liked me to play a little but now I would be a disruption to their very long and complicated scenarios which can go on for hours or days in between other activities.Grandpa has also always been a willing participant or facilitator.
Actually one of my primary reasons for unschooling was to allow them all the time in the world to use their (Extremely Vivid) imaginations.
I can see such a parallel contradiction in my 13 yr old grandaughter where my daughter dismissed or embarrased her imaginary games so much.
Actually she will still sometimes play "Barbies"- with the girls when she comes over (but she closes the playroom door).
T0 address the "stultifyingly dull" part-I have often added comments in a very low key and hopefully non manipulative way (usually joking) to expand the ways they might approach Barbie interaction. IE-"well lets go scuba diving I want to have some fun and not just sit on the beach with that boring Ken guy" (well you get the picture)
Grace
In the BC Rockies
who is exausted from the heat-a kennel full of dogs for the long weekend and looking after my daughters 6 horses while they are away
(and no I didnt muck out All of the stalls this morning)
The girls are still snoozing away.
****************************************************************************
I notice you have a 4yo girl. Does she play Barbies? Isn't it the most
stultifyingly dull activity in the world? What I do when Jayn wants me to
play Barbies with her is suggest that I will comb their
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Wish I had; and a Whole !! bunch of other things I have smartened up about with my ggd,s.(age 9 now)
I havn't actually "played" "Barbie" (and lots of other imagination toys)
so much as been available, offered comments, laughed when they explained the funny things, encouraged them to have them wherever and whenever they wish-They often follow me around so they can play with them where I am.
When they were small (4 to 6) they liked me to play a little but now I would be a disruption to their very long and complicated scenarios which can go on for hours or days in between other activities.Grandpa has also always been a willing participant or facilitator.
Actually one of my primary reasons for unschooling was to allow them all the time in the world to use their (Extremely Vivid) imaginations.
I can see such a parallel contradiction in my 13 yr old grandaughter where my daughter dismissed or embarrased her imaginary games so much.
Actually she will still sometimes play "Barbies"- with the girls when she comes over (but she closes the playroom door).
T0 address the "stultifyingly dull" part-I have often added comments in a very low key and hopefully non manipulative way (usually joking) to expand the ways they might approach Barbie interaction. IE-"well lets go scuba diving I want to have some fun and not just sit on the beach with that boring Ken guy" (well you get the picture)
Grace
In the BC Rockies
who is exausted from the heat-a kennel full of dogs for the long weekend and looking after my daughters 6 horses while they are away
(and no I didnt muck out All of the stalls this morning)
The girls are still snoozing away.
****************************************************************************
I notice you have a 4yo girl. Does she play Barbies? Isn't it the most
stultifyingly dull activity in the world? What I do when Jayn wants me to
play Barbies with her is suggest that I will comb their
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]