Childhood: A Time Of Wonder

Childhood is a treasured time in everyone's life that should not be taken for granted. Its delights can be endless. Due to changes in society, the current generation of children are having to grow up much faster than their parents had to. Do some of the following activities with your 6-12 year old to maximize that wonderful part of their lives where they are ripe with wonder and imagination. Remember it is never to late to enjoy these activities at ANY age!

1. Develop their curiosity about things.
   
   
2. Look at a leaf through a magnifying glass. And see wonder exists out of ordinary sight.
   
   
3. Collect a jar of lightning bugs at night.
   
   
4. Tell the difference between circada and cricket sounds. They’ll be hearing things all their lives that sound like one thing, but are actually another.
   
   
5. Play flashlight tag with their friends and discover the joys of summer nights.
   
   
6. Develop a sense of adventure. The younger the better.
   
   
7. Be assigned chores. Even if it’s just cleaning their room.
   
   
8. Spend hours building a sand castle on the beach, then watch the evening tide wash it away.
   
   
9. Climb up the inside of a lighthouse.
   
   
10. Watch a chrysalis turn into a butterfly. You can buy them on-line.
    
    
11. Find their way out of a maze.
    
    
12. Watch a windmill.
    
    
13. Go to camp. Learn they can live without you. And you, without them.
    
    
14. Listen to a storyteller at the library.
    
    
15. Bait a hook. And take a fish off one. Learn that life is messy. Even some of the best parts.
    
    
16. Roll in the snow. Even if they live in Florida.
    
    
17. Sit on the roof and get another perspective of their world.
    
    
18. Develop the art of listening. Without interrupting. And remember what’s being said.
    
    
19. Learn to say “I’m sorry”.
    
    
20. Develop the courage to support a friend.

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