The Joys of No Toys

One night a couple of months ago, while searching online for a temporary abode in San Diego, I had a sudden realization: wherever we stayed, there would be NO TOYS. None at all. We wouldn't have room for them on the plane (we would barely have room for our clothes).

Of course our "plan" was to spend so much time doing fun activities and playing on the beach that we wouldn't need toys... But let's be realistic. With three small children, all of whom nap at least once a day, I knew we would be spending some down time en la casa. Probably lots of down time. And thinking about spending those hours at home with no toys made me just a little bit nervous.

So I did the best I could. I packed a small suitcase full of items I thought had a high entertainment value and minimal bulk:

-A few card pairs from our Memory game, Ziplocked
-A set of four princess jigsaw puzzles
-A few new Hot Wheels for the boys
-A homemade color matching game
-Stickers
-Markers
-Kid scissors
-A small stack of paperback picture books

That's it. For a whole month! Gulp. I didn't know how long I could keep the kids entertained with this small bag of tricks.

Well, we've now been in San Diego for two weeks, and guess what? The kids have not only survived having no toys, they have thrived. Whereas I thought they would get bored and restless, the absence of toys has actually shown them both to be happier, more cooperative, much less possessive, and better at getting along with each other than ever before. What's more, the kids haven't even made it through all my activities! Instead of pining for "something to do," they've found their own way to play the hours away, mostly by playing together.

Earlier this week we visited the model train museum at Balboa Park. The kids soon discovered a small children's play area with train tables. They started playing, and within a minute or two I heard a very familiar but recently-forgotten sound: "Aaaaah! Tomeeeeeeee! He's getting my trains!" Jared's toys were under attack by his fast-moving quadruped brother. But it was the first time I had heard such a sound since we left Illinois--and all our toys--behind.

In our temporary and toy-less domicile, Jared and Allison spend their time romping around on their bed, playing in the closet with Thomas, pretending to be pirates in search of treasure, "packing up" the couch (a game they invented where they load every object in sight onto the couch or bed, perch themselves precariously on top of their loot, and then pretend to sail to a distant land, cargo in tow), or they just work on a puzzle or quietly look at books together. They did all those things back at home too, but now that's all they do. No playing with toys, just playing with each other. And maybe the best part of it is that I'm not constantly picking up toys off the floor. Everyone wins!

This reminds me of a quote I saw last week when we visited the Point Loma lighthouse. A girl who had lost her parents at a young age was brought to live with extended family at the lighthouse. She wrote,
"What had I for playthings? The nicest in the world! Pretty shells, colored stones, kelp babies. It seems to me that I can remember every day of my young life there."

It really does take little to entertain a child, so long as he has his imagination and maybe a playmate or two. Add the great outdoors, as this young girl experienced, and the possibilities are endless. In a world where there are so many "things" that we (and our children) think we need, I am grateful for the blessing of four weeks with no toys. It's been so great for the kids that maybe on our next vacation Adam and I will leave behind our toys... no electronic devices on which to check email, read the news, edit photos, etc., etc., etc. Maybe we'd engage in a little imaginative play ourselves. Shakespeare read-alouds in the evening, anyone?



                                              

Livin' it up in San Diego

Yes, we left Illinois at the beginning of this month. But no, we haven't yet arrived in Indianapolis.

Before doing our "real move" to Indy, we're spending all of April in San Diego where Adam has a work opportunity (he's consulting for a company that collaborates with his UIUC lab). Kind of like a graduation vacation, only paid for. :) So far our trip has been great! We rented a Condo in Pacific Beach--a half mile from Mission Bay and not too far from Adam's work. Adam works during the day and the kids and I play--at parks, the beach, and the zoo--and he joins in the fun on evenings and weekends. 

                                      

                                                                  Our Pacific Beach condo

                                             

                                                           Tommy loves the sand!

            

                                           

                                 

                                                         Watching the waves at La Jolla

                                 

Our first time on the beach! The kids were mesmerized by the waves and got wet up to their thighs (we went home, changed into swim suits, then came back for more beach)

                                         

San Diego is a beautiful city!! Palm trees and tropical flowering plants abound, and just driving around Pacific Beach is a feast for the eyes. Even the downtown freeway system is gorgeous (a far cry from Chicago's tollways). One of my favorite activities is driving through La Jolla (west coast). The homes are so beautiful-- from Spanish-style mansions to quaint cottages, each with an ocean view and perfectly manicured landscaping.

On Easter Sunday, we visited the San Diego temple. It is one of the most majestic temples I've seen--rivaling Nauvoo. I love how it is situated right next to Freeway 5. Everyone knows about the LDS Church because of the temple, including a USD professor whom I sat next to on the plane ride in. He said he attended the open house, and he ended up asking me some questions about the Church. So it's a great missionary tool. Adam and I have done some temple work there and are planning to attend several more times before we go home (Indy is getting a temple, but it will take several years to build. So we're enjoying a close temple while we can).

Last week, my parents and siblings came out to visit us and spend a week in San Diego! Who would have thought we'd get to see them twice so far this year? We toured the Zoo together, watched the sea lions at La Jolla Cove, explored tide pools and an old lighthouse, and took a ferry to Coronado Island. We also enjoyed celebrating my dad's birthday at their hotel and spending time at our condo (and they even let me and Adam sneak away for a date Saturday night!)