Wild Play: Long live the adventure!

Children have to learn a lot in their lives. It starts early and never stops. Social behavior, discipline, perseverance, reliability and much more demand from children again and again new willingness to perform. And even when playing there are rules to stick to. With so much regulated life, there is little room for uncontrolled play. But children are also little explorers who have to let off steam and try things out. Wild games are therefore an absolute must for a happy childhood.

When it comes to raving, climbing, running and playing ball games, it is usually the fathers who are responsible for it. Even in emancipated families, this division of labor is a fixed image that is barely shaken. Mothers are responsible for comfort and rest, fathers for everything that can be called "action" in the broadest sense. You can certainly write books about where this division comes from and whether it is good and right or not. The kids will not mind, as long as they get enough space to play wild.

Wild ball games

The Auer-Verlag has dealt with the topic of wild playing in connection with ball games. He cites the findings of the game research, which comes to the conclusion that childish game is initially not targeted. Ball games support this aimless play in a positive sense. So for small children it can not be about setting rules for playing with the ball, spontaneous playing and moving is quite enough. For older children, you can do it differently. For example, in a ball game, only the goal of the game can be discussed. Possible rules are only gradually clarified, ie when a foul exists, where ambiguity arises or problems arise (for example, if another child does not want to give the ball back). Through this mix of games and the common development of rules, the child remains free and participates in the formation of the game.

Off to the undergrowth!

The forest is wild. Much wilder than most children think. And he is exciting and exciting. Wild game in the forest is more like an adventure and discovery trip that has a lot to see. Children get to know the sounds of trees, move on uneven ground and learn how it smells in the forest. There are stumps of dead tree trunks to research objects and smelly fox buildings to discuss the question of when something stinks or not. Slippery mushrooms are examined for their condition, forest animals are observed and an insect is observed, which forms a sphere in danger and lies motionless. The only rule that exists in the forest is that of not destroying or endangering anything. But most children do not feel like doing that anyway, they would rather explore freely what they can see there in the undergrowth.

Scavenger Hunt and Cookie Monster

The Cookie Monster is no longer politically correct in its original form. That's why it has to be a vegetable fan today, and cookies are bad for your teeth. It is difficult to even bring the name Krümelmonster in connection with vegetables, but times are changing. Even the scavenger hunt no longer knows a child today, so it seems to be extinct so to speak. In fact, what makes a scavenger hunt, but still as current and popular today as it used to be. Only today it is rally or treasure hunt. However, parents should be aware of one thing: they can (and should) be involved in the preparation of a rally and have a significant share in the design. But you should not play along. The point is that the children find their way alone, interpret the tracks and weigh where a wrong track was laid for them. Parents only disturb.

More wild games

The definition of "wild" can be broader than you initially think. So a trip with the compass for children can be extremely wild, because the orientation is put to a whole new test. Also bread has something wild and adventurous, because the child sees how it arises instead of simply taking it off the shelf in the supermarket. Night walks have a very special charm and let children appear their surroundings in a completely new "light". The construction of an own wooden hut promotes creativity and planning ability, not to mention the craftsmanship. Of course, every wild game has to be adapted to the age of the child and not overstrained. One thing is for sure: you can not start early enough!

Get up from the couch, out in the air!

The scope is becoming increasingly rare. In the past, it was often possible to just go out to play, but today the roads are usually wider. Even appointments are often only possible by car trips, green spaces and playgrounds are increasingly disappearing from the cities. But even if the roads are further, it is worthwhile to cover them. There is no doubt that today's children are growing up with much more screen activity than they did in the past. And since the PC, the cell phone and the laptop are also part of our children's professional future, it would be risky to condemn these things. Nevertheless, additional space needs to be created. For wild games. Because that too influences how our children develop in the future.