Throughout Unstructured Play month at Little Pickle Press, I’ve found myself reflecting back on my childhood — the messes, the games we played, and the adventures we went on — trying to uncover the importance it has held in my life. It all seems like one big blur, but what has become apparent to me in the past few weeks is that my happiest memories are from when I was between the ages four and six.
This may not seem unusual. But for me, these years hold a particular significance because it was during this time that my parents were going through a divorce, and my entire family was in a stage of uncertainty. Although I do remember an overwhelming sense of change, when I reflect on these years I mainly think of laughter. It wasn’t until I read an article in the New York Times about the importance of unstructured play and make-believe in child development that I realized that this sense of happiness can mostly be attributed to a dress-up box.
In reality, the dress-up box was an antique toy box full of pieces of costumes, hats, scarves, clip-on earrings and out-of-date dresses. But to my sisters and me, it was much more than that. To us it was a magical opportunity to be whoever we wanted — an opportunity that we took full advantage of.
It seems like each day we had new identities. We were explorers, spies, movie stars, and magicians. We spent hours playing these roles — running through the house making crimes to solve from a piece of string in the hallway, hiding behind couches to “spy” on the babysitter, or making up plays and magic shows that we practiced for hours. But our favorite thing about the dress-up box was that whenever there was a transition between houses, and we had that rare moment when Mom and Dad were together again, we would perform our shows to them and they would play along. We would tell them we were the greatest magicians alive, and they would sit on the couch together and “ooh” and “awe”. And when the show was over, and we parted ways, we still felt like one happy family.
Looking back, I believe that it was these hours of unstructured play that made life easier and happier for the entire family and I cannot be grateful enough to my parents for playing along. As grown-ups, it is not always easy to set our own lives aside and let ourselves truly play with our children. But it can certainly make all the difference.
11 comments:
Thank you for your heartfelt and evocative post, Cameron. I hope that it will encourage the grown-ups in children's lives to foster environments where creative play is valued.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post Cameron!! Truly beautiful. My sister and I would spend hours and (sometimes over night, until our parents would hear us and send us back to bed haha)in our dress-up box in our own make believe world.
Great post!! Thank you for sharing.
Imagination is so important for children and you've beautifully illustrated just how magical it can be. Thank you for such a beautiful post.
I STILL like to dress up :-) It's nice to read how unstructured play can even be a little protective, a way to preserve self-esteem and lightness. Thank you, Cam, for sharing!
I loved playing dress-up with my Oma. The sibs and I were the royalty and she waited on us - one servant for the bunch of us. I wonder who set up that scenario? I think we learned how to treat everyone well having our favorite grandmother as handmaiden, thinking back on it. Hours of fun - wherever did she get the patience? Great post, Cameron. Very powerful insights, too.
I loved those times! and this is a beautiful depiction of the magic of dress-up - Made me miss being a kid! Piece of string clues, ha! Make-believe is still my favorite thing :)
insightful nostalgic piece - made my heart go pitter-pat! keep up the amazing work, you are obviously meant to write, Cameron!!
I love this post, Cam. Even through turmoil, children have the ability to bring enchantment and joy to everyone around them. I remember going to school dressed as Pochantas for a straight week and the memory definitely made me smile.
Your post has reminded me that I need to start building a dress up box for my son! I have encouraged art, music, and toys he can pretend play with but a dress up box is a completely different level of imagination. I'm excited to provide Brennan with a whole new box of possibilities! I will definitely pass this on to my mama friends (and others).
& to further attest to my adoration of this post, I will let you know that I am writing from a touch-screen phone, which is highly difficult (for me). Thanks Cam!
This is a beautiful tribute to your parents and your siblings...I can only imagine how everyone is smiling now remembering this close, special time together. Thank you Cameron for evoking memories for me of my own kids (now adults) and the fun they would have together and with two, very different imaginations! I agree with Kelsey...you ARE meant to write!
I'm going to make it three about that writing talent - you've some good skills already. Practice, practice and you'll go far with this ability. :)
None of us will ever forget that dress-up box. An old satin slip became a ballgown, a sheer scarf became a veil. Anything was possible. Who would have thought that the retired sparkly finery that filled that box would create so very many fond memories for all of us, during a most trying time? I am reminded of our other family favorite who surfaced during this time---a slightly irreverent raccoon handpuppet named Rocky, who told tales and joked with the children each night before bed. We had to replace Rocky three times, due to the many hugs and kisses he enjoyed, long after the children were way too old to really believe he was “real”. . . .
Cameron, yes, you brought a smile to my face thinking back to when you were all so young (and very entertaining). You are grown now, but your imagination has never waned. I cannot wait to see where it takes you next. . . .
Thank you for your bittersweet dress-up blog! The creative world of imagination is infinite and vitally important, especially for young children. During my lonely childhood in WW2, books were my unstructured escape. I dressed up my world with romance, mystery and adventure. Despite it all, it is and was a beautiful world, we just have to find the tools to make it so.
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