So we're definitely moving to Vancouver in October, come hell or high water. It's damned exciting, if slightly rife with unknowns. One of the positive things we heard from a lot of people on our recent trip out there is that it's a "baby-friendly city." To most people this means lots of doctors, daycares, stores, services, and recreation venues. I'm glad about all of these because they sure ease the tension in terms of what we'll need to seek out.
There's one other kind of "baby friendly" that gets less discussion, but I'm hoping we'll somehow be able to locate it, too. I'm talking about the freedom to raise a young one in a way that doesn't view the kid as a mere object to be dressed up and decorated and decked out with all the latest fads. I like the idea of raising the youngster in an environment that's stimulating and fun but not obsessed with squeezing a productive activity out of every free second. Sure it would be cool for the kid to know Mandarin, French, piano, and violin by the time it's five, but I truly believe a childhood based on exploration and joy is far more important.
I want to be able to find a community that sees things in a similar way. Something that's a blend of laid back and supportive. If every scrap of energy is funneled into an activity that I think is important or valuable, how is the kid supposed to ever learn anything about him or herself, let alone the world around? Most people I now do what they "should" be doing about about 10% of the time, so why would it make sense to impose some kind of "proper" behaviour on a child's every waking moment?
When you turn the question around a few different ways, it comes down to one of what the most valuable traits are to have as you grow and learn. In general, I believe that things like curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm are far more valuable than the specifics in the long run. Although unstructured play may take a slightly more sophisticated form when you're an adult, it's still in my experience the best generator of ideas and a sense of connection. There will be plenty of time to take those Mandarin classes, but you only get to see the world for the first time once.
There's one other kind of "baby friendly" that gets less discussion, but I'm hoping we'll somehow be able to locate it, too. I'm talking about the freedom to raise a young one in a way that doesn't view the kid as a mere object to be dressed up and decorated and decked out with all the latest fads. I like the idea of raising the youngster in an environment that's stimulating and fun but not obsessed with squeezing a productive activity out of every free second. Sure it would be cool for the kid to know Mandarin, French, piano, and violin by the time it's five, but I truly believe a childhood based on exploration and joy is far more important.
I want to be able to find a community that sees things in a similar way. Something that's a blend of laid back and supportive. If every scrap of energy is funneled into an activity that I think is important or valuable, how is the kid supposed to ever learn anything about him or herself, let alone the world around? Most people I now do what they "should" be doing about about 10% of the time, so why would it make sense to impose some kind of "proper" behaviour on a child's every waking moment?
When you turn the question around a few different ways, it comes down to one of what the most valuable traits are to have as you grow and learn. In general, I believe that things like curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm are far more valuable than the specifics in the long run. Although unstructured play may take a slightly more sophisticated form when you're an adult, it's still in my experience the best generator of ideas and a sense of connection. There will be plenty of time to take those Mandarin classes, but you only get to see the world for the first time once.
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