On the slopes of the Kilimanjaro, where I lived for two whole years, I was constantly amazed, amused and touched by the children’s creativity. After school, and after finishing their chores around the household, they gather together to play.
More than anything else, African parents let their children be…
No mother would even think to consider herself responsible for her child’s free time. And in the same way, kids don’t complain to their parents that they are bored!
In the safety of the community they explore, invent and create through play and adventure.
This is not to say parents don’t spend time teaching their children skills, values and the tribal history.
They most definitely do.
I talk a lot about this in my online sessions. Click to find out more.
But it really does take a village to raise a child, and nature is part of the community providing plenty of opportunities for free and creative play time.
The village car
This sweet boy and his friends derive hours of pleasure from playing with this car he built himself out of materials he collected.
The kitchen
Little Ney loves the kitchen. She often tells me proudly about the things she already knows how to make herself! She cooks chai for the family everyday…
She collected little bits and pieces, and she and her friends invited me for a festive make believe lunch…
The popular hoop-car
A stick, a half plastic bottle, and a cut out plastic lead is all you need to have your own car!
Rope games
Any rope will do, all we need is to play together… At Digna’s shop she always find time to teach the children something.
And here’s the amazing Mama mdogo, who impressed everybody with her skills. She and her baby son have the same temperament and they enjoy playing and laughing together…
אולי האמא הכי מגניבה על הקילימנג'רו! הילדות התחילו לשחק בחבל ומאמא מדוגו הצטרפה. גם אני ניסיתי אבל זה היה מביך. מתחשק לי שתראו איזה כיף באפריקה. על כל מכאובי ובעיות היבשת תשמעו כל היום, ממני תשמעו על השמחה והביחד, המשחק והמוזיקה. וכן גם על חוכמה שבטית עמוקה ששינתה את חיי. אבל לא רק. כי בלי כיף ומשחקים לאן נגיע???
פורסם על ידי Ella Harari ב- יום ראשון, 19 ביוני 2022
The airplane
Flowers flowers flowers
The girls made their hair yellow with the help of some plant they came by on our afternoon walk.
Flowers are fun…
And of course, lots of afternoon walks and general adventure seeking with me…
Inspired?
I feel we can learn so much from this. If we stop taking responsibility for kids time, it can actually open amazing worlds for them.
If we stop feeling guilty because they are BORED, they might find their own way to interest themselves.
And most of all, let’s do our best to facilitate as much time as possible for them outdoors.
Mother nature is an amazing teacher.
And maybe it’ll take even more creativity then these sweet Kilimanjaro kids have- to actually make it work in the Western world- but I believe it’s worth it!
For more videos check out the childhood games playlist on my YouTube channel, and don’t forget to hit SUBSCRIBE !
