I was intrigued when I first heard that Silken Laumann had written a book on the importance of play. The Canadian athlete most famous for her amazing comeback from a career threatening injury to win a bronze medal in Barcelona, is now a mom of two and an advocate for active children. She founded Silken’s Active Kids, a national charity inspiring individuals to make positive and lasting changes for the health of children and communities.
I definitely wanted to hear what Silken had to say but was concerned about her perspective and experience shadowing her approach to this issue. Could an Olympic level athlete really speak to an issue that needed simple and practical solutions? I was doubtful. I was wrong.
Here are some of our urbanmoms.ca members’ comments on Child’s Play:
I found the book and the message very inspiring and motivating. It made me believe that it is possible for our kids to enjoy playing the way we used to. It also made me appreciate the community in which I live. I am lucky to live in a neighbourhood where we watch out for each other’s kids. There are often kids playing road hockey or hide and seek. This was something I had taken for granted. ~Leslie, urban mom of two
Silken Laumann’s ideas to get children to play are simple and straight forward and, most importantly, not unattainable. Her comments about what’s happening with Physical Education within the school system was a real eye-opener. What stood out for me in the book was the long-term benefit of good, old-fasioned child’s play. Also, the negative impact that children’s lack of play has had on their physical and mental well-being and, most importantly, how simple it is to get them moving again! ~Cathy, urban mom of two
Laumann’s book is a practical approach about encouraging activity and unstructured play in almost any community. Her flashbacks to her childhood days of free play and the value of these experiences, even to a woman who would later become a competitive athlete, not only make sense but make one take a second look. I know I took stock of the many scheduled activities on my children’s calendars as well making sure to appreciate the opportunities they get to explore and play on their own.
Another important message in Laumann’s book was the importance of community. Part of the reason we used to play so freely when we were kids was because we were cared for and watched, not only by our parents, but by the neighbourhood. In many communities, this is no longer the case. However, Laumann makes us realize that with the help of a few, it can be a reality once again.
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