It’s interesting how differently our bodies and minds are wired from one another. What comes easy for one, may be a struggle for another based on how we process things. I see it in my children and their exploratory play. For example, Hallie has mastered the art of make believe play. The play kitchen was one of her favorite toys as she cooked and recooked items for me to sample. We bought her a range of other toys but she they would remain untouched unless it could be encompassed in her make believe world. Then we had Hunter, who enjoyed make believe as well (probably because Hallie made him participate in her play since the time he could walk.)
Over the years we bought countless toys for this birthday or that Christmas and many were used for a good week before they were left untouched in the toy bin just as we had experienced with Hallie. But he recently received a set of legos for his birthday and it has become his “thing”. Not every kid enjoys a set of legos, especially at four years old, but Hunter can’t get enough of them. At first I thought he might be too young for them. His frustration mounted upon opening the box only to see a bunch of little parts that would create the car. He just wanted the car put together. Steve walked through step by step and helped him create the car. I thought that thing would never be disassembled. But within a day, the car was destroyed and a plane took its place. And then a building. He just kept creating.
Every day during his rest time, he has his legos spread across the table. And every day he has a new creation. I sat across the table from him while I ate lunch today and I loved the concentration across his face.
He would look over the parts on the table and pick one up, realize it wasn’t going to work the way he wanted so he held it in his hand as he looked over the table for a better piece. I’m seeing a creative side to him that I didn’t realize existed. This toy, more than any toy he has come across, stimulates his mind and occupies large portions of time…and he enjoys it. It’s fascinating to see just how different every kid can be.
