Happy Mardi Gras! We still have a few hours left in this holiday. I was fortunate to spend the day with my family and relax while watching the parades. I watch hundreds of people, on floats, throwing/giving away trinkets, beads and other small items just for fun. We give to have fun. It makes us happy to give. Adults and children lined the street to enjoy this citywide party, waiting to catch beads and trinkets.
The crowds are waiting for music and floats.
But, what I saw before the parades arrived made me smile. It summed up the entire weekend I just spent in Louisville, KY at the IYCA Summit.
I watched as my step-daughter approached a group of children, strangers, in the street and became playmates within seconds. They were jump roping, in the street, as a group and making up all kinds of variations. Squat, lunge, jump, run, skip. All things I saw in a simple round of jump rope.
It was spontaneous play at its best. Young kids need to play and have fun. Adults need to remember that and give some thought to the restraints we place on everyday life.
Let's put FUN back in kid's play. And of course if your kid gets to see the Mach 5 then the day is complete. ;-)
