Father and Son, On the Beach, Southland, New Zealand

Precious Playtime on the Road

From:      Kirstie, Stuart, Matthew and Cameron
Subject:  Precious Playtime
km:         330
Place:     Te Anau, Southern Lakes, New Zealand

Stop the bike

Touring with any group of mixed ability involves mixing, matching and adapting what you do to ensure you meet the needs of everyone. Now our little ones have some particular needs and interests which certainly seem to be impacting upon our itinerary and stopping off points.

“Mummy, Mummy, Mummy, stop, I need a wee. I need a wee” is one of Cameron’s regular heckles from his trailer. And where-ever we are we stop so he can play “pee pee” in the wind. He’s gradually learning which way to face. And we are learning where is best to stand.

Cameron disembarks from Matthews’ sleeping bag airplane to declare a need for a ‘wee wee’

Playing with their imagination

While both Matthew and Cameron have their own little rucksack of toys in their buggies, they seem to make little use of them preferring to devise their own entertainment which usually involves a pet toy they brought from home and other items they find in their trailers. Matthew is trying to train his Puppy Wuppy and spends hours devising new chokers and leads for him from a piece of string, velcro tabs and an extendible cable lock.

Meanwhile Cameron tries endlessly to steal Matthew’s cable lock so he and Lamby can use it as a telephone to speak to Granny Beads and Granny in London. And when the wheels stop turning or when we strike camp, a favourite team game involves building and flying airplanes with a Thermarest undercarriage, soft sleeping bag wings, and a camping pot nose. Matthew is the pilot and Cameron can be a passenger, but only if he has a ticket.

The boys like to burn off energy at any playground they spot – at campsites, parks and schools

Adventures in playgrounds

While we pursue our own adventures on the bikes, the boys are keen to pursue theirs on New Zealand’s playgrounds.

“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Stop, Stop. I’ve seen one. We need to stopm” Matthew shouts as he struggles to make himself heard from behind his windshield. “A great big playground Dad. STOP.”

And we do and while Matthew and Cameron burn off some energy Mum and Dad can rest, regain theirs and watch the kids play for a while.

Playing on the slides in New Zealad

Where do they get their energy from?

The boys’ play is physical and boisterous, energy surging after the relative confinement of an hour or so in their buggies. The air fills with screams, laughter and the sound of sibling power struggles as the boys are reunited after their brief period of separation. And as they play they seem to seek out challenges and thrills amongst the playground equipment.

Playing on the trampoline in New Zealand playground at Blackmoun

The learning instinct

Watching them you can almost see their skills and confidence develop as they figure out how to do the impossible. At first watching others, then maybe asking for help, advice or a hand to hold, and then at some magical moment (usually when your back is turned) finding the courage to have a go alone, the joy of “I did it on my own” clear from their smiling faces.

This drive to test and develop skills through challenge seems instinctive and full of pleasure… at least when it works and they’re not on the floor with a mouth full of bark chippings.

Bouncing with joy as they test their skills on the trampoline in the school playground at Blackmount School

Precious Playtime

And with nothing much else for us to do there is so much more opportunity than at home not just to watch them but to play and be with them. To talk with them about the places we have been, things we have seen, people we have met. To listen to them chatter about this and that and nothing at all. To try and answer their questions about whatever is in their head. To make up stories, silly songs and poems and pass the time of day laughing together. This is precious playtime. Time we never really had at home. And will never have again. It’s something to savour.

Sitting with the Scarecrows in Southland New Zealand