Category Archives: Childhood Play
Childhood: The Age of Exploration
Children are curious creatures. Or at least we used to be… I was an apprentice entomologist. I spent many happy hours belly down on the grass in my backyard, observing … Continue reading
Where Do The Children Play? A Documentary
Where do the children play? A documentary.
Super Dad’s Top 5 Fun Party Games for Girls
Girls rule! Looking for fun party games for girls? Look no further… Super Dad has three daughters, and over the last twelve years has hosted more than 26 epic outdoor … Continue reading
Board Games We Played in the 1970s
When evening came and we were finished running around, scraping our knees and getting grass stains on our pants; we often played board games with our family. Here are some … Continue reading
Classic Childhood Games Considered “Risky” in New York
At first, I thought that I was reading a satirical piece from The Onion. But there is nothing funny about it. The New York State Health Department has published a … Continue reading
Making Play (and fun) Accessible to Children
I believe that making play (and fun) easily accessible to my three daughters is one of my most important jobs that I have as their father. We have dozens and … Continue reading
The consequences of sacrificing childhood boredom for hyper-activity
In a NY Times article today, Alina Tugend cautions about the possible consequences of the over-scheduled and overly-orchestrated lives of young children today. “…Music lessons, gymnastics, horseback riding, tutoring, … Continue reading
King of the Sandcastle
My family spent some time camping on the Pacific coast of southern Washington last month — in Cape Disappointment, where Lewis and Clark first saw the Pacific Ocean, and in … Continue reading
Spring Break Activities for Children
Are you looking for a fun and creative activity for your children to do over Spring Break? Something to motivate them and lure them away from the seductive glow of … Continue reading
Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Street Light
Here’s a little adaptation of one of my favorite poems from Dylan Thomas; who I am sure, as a boy, raged against the dying of the street light along … Continue reading
Exploring Childhood Play and Adventure
This week, my daughter joined a wonderful group of girls in a local explorers club here in Bellingham. It is a thoughtfully designed and inspiring program that runs through December, … Continue reading
Autumn Inspiration
I have been remiss about posting on the blog during the last few months. Summer took me away, distracting me effortlessly with her long, warm days. But as Autumn breezes … Continue reading
Converse, Pro-Keds and Skippies
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wore Pro-Keds. So did Pistol Pete Maravich. Of course Chuck Taylor was wearing Converse way back in 1921, before Pro-Keds were even on the scene. Elton Brand wears … Continue reading
Disconnecting from Technology for the Sake of Childhood
I am just back after five days camping on the beach at Spencer Spit on Lopez Island with the family. There is something magical about spending the day (let alone … Continue reading
Tug of War: The Ultimate Team Sport
I can’t remember where I played tug of war, but I remember being on a number of different tug of war teams throughout my childhood. It was always the main … Continue reading
Stick Shift Controls, Swivel Action Rear Wheels
Eight, nine, ten years old; old enough for the Green Machine! A racer for guys who like a ride that’s really fast. Stick shift controls, swivel action rear wheels! Twist, … Continue reading
Big Fun on Big Wheels
Big Wheels was the first bike for many kids in my neighborhood. Having a Big Wheels was a childhood rite. It was one of those toys that every kid wanted … Continue reading
The All American Soap Box Derby
When I was a boy, the Beach Shopping Center was the place to be in Peekskill, NY if you wanted to participate in or witness soap box derby races. I … Continue reading
Forts, Tree Houses and Childhood Dreams
My brother Dan and I spent plenty of hours building forts in the woods in front of our house. We built some really good ones using scrap materials that we … Continue reading
Badminton Bravado
It was very common to see two things in my backyard when I was a young boy, and especially during family reunions — a badminton set and a croquet set. … Continue reading
