Child’s Play. It usually connotes something that is simple and free. It has the sense of being easy and spontaneous. Children don’t really have to be taught how to play—play is what they do best.
So I’m back from camping up at Indian Boundary Campground in the Cherokee National Forest with some friends. We had three great nights in the woods by the water. We had great food and fellowship. We had a lot of fun being with each other and being out in nature.
But one of the greatest things about this trip was the children. At one campsite there was a bunch of kids. Several of them were sort of stair-step siblings—you know a year or two apart in age, and their heights if you lined them up would look like a staircase. They had their bikes and they rode around the campground over and over and over again.
The smallest of them had a small scooter that didn’t actually pedal. It was kind of like Fred Flintstone’s car—foot propelled. It was as small as he was. In fact, this little one could be seen riding along with a pacifier in his mouth! One time he and his mom had gone up to the bathhouse. I saw him flying down the hill back to the campsite, pacifier in his mouth and feet up so as not to slow him down. He had a look of pure joy on his face. Mom was close behind with a look of concern. But he got back safe and sound—no doubt excited for the trip.
One girl still had training wheels on her bike. You could hear her coming but she was always accompanied by a couple of siblings. Happy kids having a great time!
That is not to say they didn’t have some serious moments. I think I saw a couple of them fishing and they weren’t laughing and playing then.
They were also learning something of the ways of the grown-up world. They came by the campsite trying to sell some firewood. We asked how much, and they said ‘Eighty dollars.’ They obviously have a lot to learn about economics. We declined their offer.
Later they came back having gathered a little bit of their dad’s kindling into a bundle. Again they were looking to make a sale. We offered them $5 and they took it gladly. It was very similar to supporting your local kid trying a lemonade stand. You go ahead and cough up (sometimes literally cough it up! Some kids are more eager than they are experienced when it comes to making lemonade!) some cash to encourage a young person to show some initiative and try to make some money. Our little entrepreneurs left gleefully cheering about their big sale.
We were all laughing ourselves somewhat. We had heard from their parents that they were encouraging their kids to learn how to talk with strangers. Not where everyone is in this world, but this family was glad to be camping and was open to meeting new people in this fairly ‘safe environment.’ These kids were great!
Later in the evening after being down to the fishing pier to do some stargazing we came out and these kids had been climbing a tree by the campsite. They were using glow sticks and making them into rings to decorate. It looked like a Christmas tree here in October. The kids were having a great time. One of the little entrepreneurs who had sold us wood earlier told me ‘I’ll pay you five dollars to climb the tree.’ Gee, wonder where she would have gotten that from?! I declined the offer. Five bucks wouldn’t cover my probably medical expenses from falling out of the tree. Again, I laughed as I made my way back to camp.
Later I heard the kids in the tree singing ‘Jesus Loves Me.’ It was the sweetest thing. So simple, so honest, so easy. Indeed, for them it was child’s play.
The rest of our camp took on that light-hearted, playful feel.
The walks in the woods were slow and enjoyable as we looked at different plants and trees and the water and sky. There was plenty of laughter as we poked fun at one another.
When some others arrived on Saturday afternoon, we felt a sense of adventure to go hike and explore a new place that none of us had ever visited. It was a wonderful hike to a beautiful spot where we could look out over the valley and up to the ridges and just bask in the sunlight. We were happy and carefree. We were delighted to just be in the moment and be in the mountains. It was refreshing. It was kind of like child’s play, but for adults.
Or maybe it was just that we were finding ways to play freely. Maybe those delightful little people had reminded us that being lost in the moment is part of what play is. A new place. A new experience. Something different. Something beautiful. All of it mixed together to make us feel like kids again. Oh yeah, there was a dog involved too! That will make you feel like a kid again.
I hope that those kids remember this camping trip for years to come. Not likely being so small, but maybe. If not this trip, then I hope they get many, many more times to be out exploring and playing and laughing and singing in the same innocent, joyful way that they did.
They will not know how the impression they made on me. But watching a child play takes me back!
Character in the Making 