Whose Palm Frond is it Anyway?

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Whose Palm Frond is it Anyway?

February 22, 2011 | Children and Nature,Play

In playgrounds across the country it is common to hear caregivers singing: Be nice…You have to share…Good job…

Over the weekend I was reflecting on how much my friends and I have learned to intervene and involve ourselves in our children’s play as a demonstration of what we have come to think of as good parenting — very much unlike our own parents, who seemed to never be clued in to our own childhood playtime.

In the video below, I realized I had to make an effort to bite my tongue as I filmed my daughter and another young boy go a bit of back and forth regarding the ownership of an errant palm frond. Watch:

Note how peaceful the situation was resolved without any guidance from me — and I imagine what they learned for themselves through this interaction.

Do you intervene and/or problem solve for your children as they play? Why or why not?

http://www.anandaleeke.com Ananda Leeke

Just learned about your web site after reading Black Web 2.0. Love it. Thanks for creating space for us outdoor Afro people. I have loved nature since I was a child in the 70s. I love practicing yoga and meditating in my local park. I also love walks in nature and adore finding nature in urban places like my hometown of DC. Keeps shining.
Rue

I am so glad you are a part of the community, and thankful for your comment. Please keep spreading the word, and join the community to share your stories, blogs, and videos.

Welcome!
Tony

That was resolved very civilly. I like how they both refrained from the grip and pull behavior. It pays to have connections.:)”I know somebody who can split this apart.”
Rue

I know Tony — I can’t say I would have been as civil myself, considering the scarcity of that particular piece of nature that day!