Have you ever asked someone about their favorite play memory? It beats all other small talk! As soon as the question hangs in the air, you will see eyes light up and hear about the most wonderful adventures. Bringing play memories to life by speaking about them creates the most wonderful feelings. You should try it at dinner tonight. If there's no other adult in the house so it's just you and the kiddos, share some of your play memories with them.
Courtney Watkins was the creative mastermind and sparkling personality driving Henson's The Possibility Shop online webisodes found on DisneyFamily.com back in 2010 and 2011. You can read Part I of my Q & A about nature play and how to encourage creativity in our kids. I interviewed her back when she was on the show. Now you can see what she's up to courtneywatkins.com.
Q: I own your "Courtney's Creative Adventures" book, so I know you have all sorts of great childhood memories. I remember playing on the roof of our two story house w/o supervision and going full speed down our steep driveway on Big Wheels. What are some of the risks you took in play?
A: Hilariously/dangerously similar memories . . . We would climb to the top of the school roof -- just because it was there (our Mt. Everest) and squeal with delight and terror when the janitor would chase us off. And careening down our neighbor Brooke's steep driveway in her red wagon -- we'd ride tandem and the one "steering" would ask the passenger, "Crazy or Sane?" and that was the style of the downhill ride. Surprisingly, no chipped teeth. Oh -- and in a word: Firecrackers! What about taking turns with the neighbor kids and my brother flinging each other out of the hammock with great velocity and height onto the brick patio?!
Q: Quick! Don't think too hard. What are your 5 favorite play memories that stand out in terms of 1) smell, 2) sight, 3) taste, 4) touch, and 5) sound?
Taste: Chocolate Malts -- My dad would hustle my brother and I out the door with a shout to my mom, "I'm taking the kids to the library!" Really, we were headed to the ice cream store! You can imagine my delight to discover that my daughter has the same love for chocolate malts!
Sound: The sound of an unexpected knock on the door was so exciting -- held so much possibility, mystery, excitement. My brother and I would tear through the house to see who was there. Often, it was our friend Brooke from next door. She was always a good (daily) surprise!
Smell: Lilac Bush -- I hollowed out the middle, dragged in a couple of logs as seats and would hide inside by myself or with a friend. Still, lilacs "time travel" me back instantaneously!
Touch: My cat Panther -- I loved to dress my cat in my red turtleneck. The combo layers of his soft grey fur under the soft red shirt were superior! And he seemed to agree (or at least tolerate) with the get-up.
Sight: Spotting my friend Megan in the distance. We lived at the top of the hill and Megan lived at the bottom and down a curving road. We'd call each other and say, "Let's meet, leave your house now." And we'd head out toward each other -- every time it was such a kick to spy the other in the distance. Cut to New York in the late 90's where my husband and I lived before moving to LA. One or the other of us would call and say, "I'm heading down Broadway on the west side. Walk 'til you find me." And each of us would duck and dodge trying to keep out of sight so as to be the first to spot the other one headed their way.
