Childhood’s Necessary Things
Comments: 5
An inexhaustive list of things no childhood should be without.
- Wide open spaces (dauntingly wide if possible)
- An area of bushland or forest where unknown creatures lurk
- A creek with big fat black tadpoles
- Near-death drowning experience in creek
- Open fireplaces
- A fat matronly great-aunt
- At least one door which one is instructed never to open
- Mysterious cupboards in high places
- A dog which dies prematurely
- Later, another dog which doesn’t
- An old pair of leopard print underpants to be saftey-pinned into a Tarzan costume
- A crippling fear of the sound of the wind in trees
- Big puddles
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
- A bully or, ideally, a gang of bullies
- A telescope
- A dramatic fall from a moving vehicle
- The killing of a poisonous snake by one’s father
- A cubby house, preferably in a secure undisclosed location
- At least one friend whose parents just do not give a damn what he gets up to and who’s eager to share what he’s learned
- A total solar eclipse
- Plenty of Lego
- A vegetable garden
- Tony Curtis in Houdini
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Posted to General Rants • 2002.11.23 (Sat) • 23:45
Comments
Posted by nick 2002.11.24, 00:40
man, i only got like three of those. i had lots of legos. i wish i still had ‘em.
Posted by Mary Beth 2002.11.24, 04:48
Can I forego the falling out of moving cars and the poisonous snakes, please? When I look at the children I know now, sometimes I can’t help but think “go outside and play!” and then I wonder how we ever managed to survive all those long summers with not much to do. There are some great memories in there of making castles and such inside brushy areas and looking up at leaves and clouds. Important memories of hearing Dad sing by the outdoor fireplace he built, as we sat around toasting marshmallows and watching the sparks fly up.
Posted by M Sinclair Stevens 2002.11.24, 06:33
- time to be bored * Swallows and Amazons * radio-controlled airplanes (or a little rocket kit) * The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad * rescuing a kitten or being followed home by a puppy and getting to keep it * a tree house or a fort made from an old wooden packing crate * skinny-dipping * licking the spoon * listening to the ocean in roar in a seashell * being read to sleep
Posted by Ryan Carter 2002.11.24, 07:56
Hey hey hey! Let’s not forget wooden, or metal at the very least, “jungle gyms” in parks and at school’s. This plastic, no-splinters, can’t burn your hands on it, no injuries stuff the kids have today just doesn’t cut it. Kids need some toughness.
Lego was great! I’m not so sure about the Tarzan costume, I was more of an Army ‘cammo’ kinda kid. Thoughtful list.
Posted by jh 2002.11.24, 14:05
Nick — Not a prescriptive list by any means. And it’s never too late to play catch-up, you know….
Mary Beth — My god, fathers singing. Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash were the staples for my dad, who I suspect actually has a fine singing voice but is too embarrassed to actually cut loose and sing anything seriously.
He’d forget (or pretend to forget) the words to songs and make things up, ensuring miles and miles of groans and entreaties to stop from the kids in the back seat during long drives.
M — every single thing on your list should be added. I can remember being shown how sea shells contained the roar of the waves, and was utterly amazed that nature would be so thorough in its design.
And licking the spoon! I have to admit that there are some things I will never outgrow.
Ryan — Good point. Wood came first for me, as it came first for my daughter. As for jungle gyms, yes, yes, yes. I remember falling off one in primary school, it was the first time I was ever ‘winded.’ I landed flat on my back and every last wisp of air was snatched from my body like a poor soul when the devil comes collecting. I distinctly remember the pain being replaced with a cold panic as I realised I was unable to draw a breath.
I did eventually draw another breath and was back on the monkey bars again after a respectful period of wariness.
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