Putting the Fun into Father’s Day
With Father’s Day just around the corner, children in nurseries and schools around the globe will be lovingly making cards and gifts to let their dad’s know just how special they are.
Wonderful as these glued and crafted creations are, as adults we all know that you can’t beat the warm glow that you get from spending quality family time together. This got me thinking about Father’s Day a few years ago when my husband, two children and I took a trip to the beach. “It’s like being a child again” said a granddad to me. Three generations of a family (women and all) had gathered by an inland boating lake, with their model boats proudly lined up in a row. The men cradled, cleaned and caressed their boats, an ocean liner, tug boat, yacht and speedboat, before lining them up, side by side on the verdant grass, waiting for their turn on the water. The women had come prepared with chairs, flasks, sandwiches and lots of patience and good humour. Although they feigned boredom they were clearly almost as hooked as the men, enjoying the playful camaraderie of the occasion.
It being nearly lunchtime, my children sat on a grassy bank, sandwich in hand, captivated as they watched the spectacle unfolded. As each vessel was carefully lifted onto the lapping water the suspense (of whether it would sink) was palpable as each child (and adult) perhaps imagined himself the captain of a ship, travelling to some distant shore.
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laughter and frivolity, the men proceeded to take it in turns ‘sailing’ their boats. It was in one such bout of laughter, creased over like a child with the ’full-bodied’ experience, that the granddad of the family explained to me how playing with toys made him feel. You could see it in his wide grin and eyes glinting with playfulness. The huge flashy speedboat (one of his son’s) had just had to be rescued by a tug (another son’s) in a dramatic manoeuvre, which clearly had tickled the father as well as the heckling women onlookers.
Meanwhile my then five and eight year old (not to mention their Dad) sat watching mesmerised, drifting in distant shores judging by their glazed expressions.
From doodling to sailing grown-up toy boats, even adults enjoy playing. Sat watching the adults and my children that day, it was difficult to tell the children and adults’ responses apart. It could so easily have been a game of conkers in the playground, the children carefully lining up their proud finds before making a selection and preparing for the ‘battle’.
Play is all about the process and on that sunny day by the sea the process of play was apparent, as was the satisfaction, excitement and allure of distant shores. Whatever your plans this Father’s Day, make sure you make time for Dad’s to play.
Feature by Sue Gascoyne of Play-Z Ltd To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e.
the.wire@btinternet.com It’s all Child’s Play
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