Chalk Maps and Life Lessons
I asked a Mom I met online, if I could post a story that she shared with me and she said YES!
 Chalk Roads and Villages
The Mom shared: My three older kids were on the sidewalk making chalk pictures. The pictures consisted of buildings, roads and stores. The Mom quietly commented that they even included a Walmart on their map. I laughed because for many people walmart is the evil giant business (which it is in many ways) but for a kid it is part of the world, or their community and it deserves a place on their chalk map.
I appreciated this story because it is so difficult to raise children to respect the environment, shop locally and stay community focused when big box is a reality in many towns. Yes, I hope to teach my child to sew, grow their own food and be as self sufficient as possible but at some time in their life, they will need new underwear and for our community big box (be it walmart, penneys, tj maxx etc) is the only local store where you can buy undies.
So I say, let the children play. In another conversation you can talk about why you shop, eat the way you do, but don’t let it interrupt their play. Give the child the chance to make his/her own understanding and beliefs about their world… “children live what the learn and learn what they live.” I don’t know what your child draws when they make a map of their world or if they have ever been asked to draw their world but it would be interesting to see how they visualize their world. My girls often draw “maps” that include Shadow, Grandpa Greg, Grandma Dee, Aunt Jess, and Lauren. They have also included the “ice cream place”, Andrew’s, library and the “park” and the “toy store” and Bob Mevans. (The toy store is tjmaxx and bob mevans is actually bob evans.)
And just in case it wasn’t clear…I don’t judge people because of where they shop. Hey, who I am to judge? I find that children have a way of reminding us about what really is important. Time spent making chalk maps while Mom looks on and notices the details of the child’s map, is so special to both child and Mom. Who could ask for much more?
Posted on July 2nd, 2007 by karen
Filed under: Uncategorized