August 27, 2013

We recently allowed our kids to start playing educational computer games on the PBS Kids website. We did not have cable television for at least seven years, let alone video games and access to the computer was strictly reserved for carefully supervised Netflix entertainment. Needless to say, this new commodity has quickly become a treasured pastime.

Usually, the girls assist the boys with navigating the website and eagerly guide them through the various levels, mastering matching, predictions, spelling, and elementary arithmetic. They were in school, though, and Davionn, anxious to get a chance to play without so much help from his sisters that he hardly gets to touch the computer, asked if I’d start up a game for him and help him play.

I had an intimidating list of ‘to do’ looming over my morning, and it usually works to just tell the kids I don’t know how to play the games, which is true, but he’s just a little too clever — or better yet, too wise for that excuse.

Davionn – “Mommy, will you help me unlock the cheetah disc on Wild Kratz?”

Me – “Sorry buddy, I don’t know how to play that game.”

Davionn – “Didn’t you play it when you were a kid?”

Me – “We didn’t have computer games when I was a kid.”

Davionn – *thinks a moment* “Mommy, you can still learn things when you’re a grownup… you just have to keep trying new things.”

Needless to say, my chores were put on hold, and we learned how to play the game together.

Being a parent is challenging, but the best days are when my children challenge me to expand my brain space and remind me, not so subtly, that I will always possess the capacity to learn new things.

After we finished the game, I decided to teach him something I had learned as a kid: how to make play dough. The floors did not get scrubbed, but I’d say we had a pretty productive day bonding and learning together.