Have you seen butterflies basking in the morning sun, raising their energy levels to flutter all day long? I think humans and children need it too. So when I saw the sun peep out after days of winter cold, I decided to take us outdoors.
A2 is only about 14 months young and he was in the baby carrier. We walked to a local park 700m away. He absolutely loves to be outdoors and waits for anybody to take him out of the four walled space. I found him silent as he was focused on absorbing all he could capture on the busy streets. The walk was over 12 minutes but the interior roads leading to the park was shaded by canopy of tall trees, and we were partially protected from the strong rays.
We reached the park. I do not prefer sitting on the planned seating as it would not allow us to engage with the elements. Instead, I walked around and found a low key patch of grass where I could let A2 be free and autonomous. The sun was warming us and it was a sensorial experience letting our body feel the raw textures below us- earth and stone, thorn and grass. Looking up close, we were able to spot different colourful insects, butterflies. I showed him how to rustle and powder some dry leaves and play ball ball with a fallen seed. We found different kinds of twigs to touch and break. At this point, I was thinking, if we are outdoors, kids do not even need any of the manufactured toys — nature is plentiful and its products are transient, so they compost after you play with them only to be regenerated in a few days.
A2 kept exploring and I stretched my body into various yoga postures. I was also trying to absorb the beauty around me. This place was a treat to my senses. A plethora of biodiversity and good unpolluted air. I knew it was the perfect day. I glanced sideways every so often to ensure A2 was not chewing any of the elements around us. But sometimes I let him be if it was a harmless twig. What would happen, I thought. As a parent, I find myself constantly questioning my perspectives and prejudices — what is clean and what is not, what is acceptable and what is not.
It was about 45 minutes now, and we were quite basked. A2 had crawled around plenty and was slowly getting restless. As for me, I could have been there a bit more. But, the park caretaker was making rounds and blowing the whistle. It was park closing time at 11 am, and everybody in the park was forced to exit that very minute. The harsh whistle was a stark disturbance in the serenity of the park, but the man was oblivious to it.
I grabbed A2 into the baby carrier and made my way to the exit. I felt recharged and ready for my day, just like a butterfly about to take off.
This chronicles our outdoor experience on a particular sunny winter morning. I do take my child out for similar sensorial experiences in the free and public commons that are around us. However, I’m usually an odd one there. It is still quite an uncommon thing to do in the city today in the place where I live. Few caregivers are willing or desire to allow young children to engage with natural and complex environments that are not sterile. Even those who live in close vicinity of such parks. At a maximum, I have observed caregivers hold babies in these commons, but rarely allow them to explore, placing their own fears of cleanliness and acceptability as barriers for the children.
Our commons are beautiful playscapes for the urban child and one that we must claim! There are rules and restrictions in most of the urban commons — timings, fencing, gatekeepers telling us what we can and cannot do. It is already very restrictive, so I take advantage of what is still allowed without the need to start a battle. But the more number of caregivers want this access for their children , higher is the possibility of the coexistence of the commons and the commoner. We do not need any fenced off, walled off natural spaces- we are an integral part of nature, and for millenia have lived that way.
