Summer in the Sunshine Garden by Belinda Kenwood

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer 

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer 

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer 

Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer 

Many suns and moons and summers ago, when I was a young child, I remember this song playing on the radio, and I also vaguely remember singing it along with Mitch Miller and his “Sing Along with Mitch” hour on television. He would ask the audience to “Follow the bouncing ball,” while providing the lyrics on the screen so we could follow along with Mitch and his chorus. Fond memories. Our first month back caring for children at LifeWays has brought me back to my memories of “those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.” (Minus the “days of soda and pretzels,” as I save those for at home consumption, and “beer.”) Our days have been relaxed and filled with plenty of time outdoors experiencing simple pleasures. We enjoy a gentle rhythm of the day, good food, good play, and good rest. It feels like time is suspended, and we live in the delights of the present moment. And speaking of delights, it has been absolutely delightful observing the children’s summertime, outdoor play. We’re not only blessed to be located on a land preserve that provides play spaces with both sun and shade, surrounding us with the beauty, wildlife, and sounds that only Mother Earth can provide, we have had the great fortune of having a few “old” LifeWays friends return to the fold for the summer months. Our friend, Adeola, from the Sunshine Garden, and our friends, Luci and René (Coco’s big brother), from the Violet Garden, have proved to be helpful additions to our group dynamic. Being older and having had “school” experience, they are our benevolent leaders and role models of ways to play and interact with one another as well as helping to work through challenges. 

So, in what delightful ways have I observed the children in their play? Because we caregivers strive to not interfere in their play, (as much as possible) allowing them the freedom from adult “eyes,” and adult ideas, it is absolutely amazing to watch their imaginations take flight and to see how capable they are of discovering and experimenting on their own. Here are a few things I’ve observed:

• Games of chase 
• Using wood planks, blocks and logs to create slides, teetertotters, bridges, shelters, towers, etc. – it’s awesome to see how they work together on these projects. It’s also fun to see who steps up to be the project “foreman”, giving instructions and directions to the others on how to complete a project. 
• Mixing and baking cakes, ice cream, muffins, cupcakes, etc. using sand, water and outdoor kitchen containers 
• Hunting and collecting creepy crawlies – inchworms, caterpillars, bugs, and other crawly things to show to friends and caregivers 
• Running with absolute joy through the sprinkler 
• Hanging out in neighborhood “packs” and “gangs” – especially the four to sixyear olds. Sometimes their younger siblings will accompany them. Now when I use the terms “packs and gangs,” I mean it in a nostalgic, good way. The “Spanky and Our Gang” and “How to Kill a Mockingbird” way. The way I did when I was younger as well as my own children. They’ll go explore in the wooded area, and then you may find them in a circle just chatting, making silly jokes, laughing, or observing a little earth creature. Then, they may get up again, run through the sprinkler and move on to coloring with chalk on the sidewalk, kicking a ball, playing chase, hanging from the poles of the bike rack, etc. When someone needs to rest or craves some alone time, they’ll disengage from the group and sit on a bench or the grass, or go off and do something on their own. When they’re ready, they rejoin the group. 
• Swinging on the Hammock – a favorite activity for sure! Learning to wait for your turn provides valuable lessons in patience and perseverance. 

The children do a very nice job of washing their hands after toileting and before/after meals. I can tell they’ve had lessons at home. After finishing the noon meal and saying “Good-bye” to our half-day friends, our full day friends ready themselves on their beds for an afternoon rest. Before turning off the lights for rest, I’ll read a story. In June, I read a book of Nursery Tales that included, The Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, Chicken Little, The Lambikin (a Tale from India and one of my personal favorites as a young child) and others. Now that I’ve finished reading the tales in that book, I have moved on to reading a Treasury of Animal Stories by James Herriot, a British veterinary surgeon and writer who wrote the “All Creatures Great and Small” series. 

After napping and resting, those who’ve awakened early make their beds, go to the bathroom, and then don their shoes and sunhats to head outside to play while others are still napping and snack is being prepared. Once most or all of our friends have awakened and joined us outside, we head inside at 3:25pm to wash up for afternoon snack. After partaking in the afternoon meal, the children prepare to once again head outdoors to play as parents begin arriving to gather up their child/children. It has been a gift to be with the children in such a relaxed, joyful, simple manner during these lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Thank you for entrusting your children in our care. 

With Gratitude,

Miss Belinda