Comments on: A li’l bit o’ rules is ok http://engaginglife.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/a-lil-bit-of-rules-is-ok/ ... is the key to having one Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:40:25 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Turff http://engaginglife.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/a-lil-bit-of-rules-is-ok/#comment-9 Turff Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:07:35 +0000 http://engaginglife.wordpress.com/2007/08/01/a-lil-bit-of-rules-is-ok/#comment-9 I remember you telling me about the "playing dumb" strategy what may have been a couple of years ago. Since that conversation, I've used this technique a number of times with my girls. Like the story you tell above, it almost always ends in giggles, and almost always makes what would have been simple, brief play into prolonged fun engagements. To me, one of the most profound (and possibly tragic) points to this is how contrary the entire idea is for us. As we grow older, we seem to want to do more and more grunting and pointing, and less and less playing. The world wants to tell us to "grow up" and "get serious". Folks seem to accept that most of our learning occurs during our childhood years. Is it a coincidence that this is also when most of our playtime occurs? I need to work a little harder resisting the urge to finish other peoples sentences and maybe, just maybe, play dumb a little more often. Thanks for the tip, Mike. My girls and I have enjoyed it. I remember you telling me about the “playing dumb” strategy what may have been a couple of years ago. Since that conversation, I’ve used this technique a number of times with my girls. Like the story you tell above, it almost always ends in giggles, and almost always makes what would have been simple, brief play into prolonged fun engagements.

To me, one of the most profound (and possibly tragic) points to this is how contrary the entire idea is for us. As we grow older, we seem to want to do more and more grunting and pointing, and less and less playing. The world wants to tell us to “grow up” and “get serious”. Folks seem to accept that most of our learning occurs during our childhood years. Is it a coincidence that this is also when most of our playtime occurs? I need to work a little harder resisting the urge to finish other peoples sentences and maybe, just maybe, play dumb a little more often.

Thanks for the tip, Mike. My girls and I have enjoyed it.

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