Children on the trail "play." Watching them stirs up questions without answers and pictures without words. Does technology give more than it takes? Will our children remember how to "play."
On a cold evening in Tangboche, Shalla, a social worker from Spain, and I huddled around the stove and shared precious time with this darling five year old who knows how to count to 100 in English.
Children gather outside, chase each other, sing songs and "just play."
This is as close to a toy as I've seen on the trail: someone made the wooden stick and wheel; the child runs with it, rolling the wheel as he/she goes.
Mothers carry their children up hill on their backs and in baskets with straps across their foreheads.
This little boy washes his face and hands before running to school.
This precious child plays with sticks.
2 comments:
My step father describe the toy made from stick and wheel years ago as an example of the kind of toys available to him as a share croppers child in Axtel Texas in the 1920's. His wheel was sorghum can top cut our with and old fashioned can opener and was dangerous to toes of barefoot playmates! Your adventure is wonderful to share.
Yikes! I sort of remember there being something similar at my grandparents farm in Bonham, Texas but it was wood like this one. Funny how some toys have longevity beyond our imagination. I finally have a few minutes of wifi–it's fun to connect.
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