The more imagination based play days from the 365 day nature play challenge: A new idea from B: If I were a bird, what would I do?; a QUEST! To save grandma from demons; and a classic: If I were a dog, what would I do?
269 – If I was a bird, how would I live?
Monday 7 April. Sunny. 13°C
We’re on holiday and I have lots of ideas for challenges but B beats me to it. We’re sitting in a quiet churchyard having lunch and she starts watching the magpie’s, who are strutting about and thinking about nesting.
“If I were a bird and I’d found a place with no other birds in it, I would try and find a small place where I could survive with water, worms, good earth and shelter”. She points at a big plant with long thin leaves by some water. “Then if no enemies or other birds come for me in two weeks, i would expand my build to more shelter and better water and earth. If another two weeks have passed and no one comes, then I would expand it so there was more shade and luxury for a bird. If I was sure I’d just expand it so I would go everywhere in the area there wasn’t a pavement. Then I would expand it so I own the whole place and then if anyone comes in I’d just fight them off.”
I’m intrigued. “Would you fly at all?”
Flying’s not really occurred to her. “Yes, if I had too”.
Fair enough.
96 – Going on a ‘K-POP Demon Hunters’ QUEST!
Saturday 27 September. Cloudy. 17°C
I’ve been trying to get B to play fairy tales with me for the challenge. When she was little it was one of our staples – playing The three little pigs or Goldilocks and the three bears. We could do it anywhere with three trees, or three bushes, or just three imaginary houses. But B is not willing. She is far too old now. So I ask her what she WOULD play? She considers…
B: “How about K-POP Demon Hunters?”
L: “Seriously?”
B: “Yeah! I want to be Zoe. Who are you going to be?”
I go for Mira. I say Grandma can be Rumi. We’re walking over to see her and we need something to motivate B. B is motivated.
B: “YEAH! And the demons are going to get her and we have to rescue her. COME ON!”
B fixes the rules. At first big litter is demons and we have to swipe them if we see it. Litter bins become boy band demons and we have to sing at small litter to save it. Drain covers are people under attack and they have to be jumped on and sang at to be saved. We enjoy ourselves for about twenty minutes and then it starts getting boring.
We play the birds are spies for a while. But then they fly off. B’s got a new idea. “Oh no! The demons are climbing up to grandma’s flat. We’ve got to get water for the lake and get it to her to stop them but we only have ten minutes. Can you time us?”
L: “We won’t get there in ten minutes. Say 30?”
B: “No that’s too long. 28!”
The timer is set and now we’re walking fast. We find some big dock leaves to carry water on and head down to the secret place by the lake to get it. It’s got rather overgrown but B makes it without scratches and gets a water covered dock leaf which she sprints up to grandma with one minute and thirty seconds to spare.
Grandma is a bit confused but we’ve definitely got our exercise.
24 – If I were a dog, what would I do?
Monday 8 December. Cloudy & damp. 13°C
How did we get this long to get to this one? An absolute classic of many hours enjoyment. We’re going to be dogs!
We’re actually walking a dog at the same time which probably makes it more realistic than normal. We take it in turns to run away from the lead, pretend to do wees against the wall and take sudden unexpected turns back to sniff something interesting. Doggy is intrigued and we’re both giggling. Will do this one again soon.
