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#1
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Why kids should branch out and build tree houses
Why kids should branch out and build tree houses
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2003066741_faull17.html http://tinyurl.com/o8vwa By Jan Faull Special to The Seattle Times Did you build a tree house when you were a kid? While your home in the branches probably wasn't an architectural wonder, you probably had a memorable time planning, acquiring the materials and building it. You likely felt competent and in control, making adjustments as the structure progressed. Kids are driven to take on such a project because it somehow satisfies their need to utilize their growing developmental skills. They're able to try building a structure they've fantasized about living in or at least sleeping in on a warm summer night. While doing so, they imagine whether they'd be lonely or brave. They also challenge themselves physically by carrying and hoisting boards to the tree limbs and then pounding in nails to secure the structure. The social challenge of the process likely provides the most benefit. Kids face the challenges of problem-solving, negotiating, compromising and making decisions without adult guidance. They're left to pick a leader while calling on and using each other's emerging expertise. Deep friendships usually form along with the project. Kids between 8 and 10 years old begin the process of separating from parents. Some do so with a sign on their bedroom door that reads, "Keep Out." Others form secret clubs. Many yearn to take on the challenge of building a camp in the woods or a tree house in the backyard. Will your kids have the opportunity for such an adventure? One mom said she had built a tree house with her sister, but she would not support her children's interest in building such a structure, because she's afraid they'd fall or pound a nail in a finger. Other parents might fear that unsupervised youth building a tree house in the woods might attract adults that would do them harm. Today, parents might hope for a summer day camp where the kids are commissioned to build a tree house with the plans, supplies and organization provided by camp counselors who would oversee the project. Such an experience, although possibly valuable on one level, would be absurd on another. What kids this age truly seek is the freedom to tackle such projects on their own, whether they finish them, serve a purpose or look respectable. If you question the value of time spent building a free-form tree house, consider that the builders have the opportunity to learn about lumber, the importance of bracing the structure, hinges, nails, screws, ladders, pulleys, framing for windows and doors, sloping the roof to shed rain, the strength of materials, how to use a handsaw, the importance of measurement and how body size relates to the tree and the house it sits in. Even if the structure is only a few slabs of lumber hammered into a tree where the builders take their lunch and view the neighborhood from this perspective, it's still a gratifying memorable experience. If you'd like your children to have a tree-house building experience outside your backyard, but worry about predators, go with them to keep an eye on lurkers in the woods. If you provide such protection, take a book to read, and resist the tendency to take over the project. Building a tree house by adult standards rather than kids' is far less meaningful to the young builders. With kids today spending so much time hooked up to technology, parents need to take on the challenge of endorsing opportunities for safe adventures in natural settings. If you question the need of kids to do so, read Richard Louv's book "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder" ($13.95, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill). Jan Faull, a specialist in child development and behavior, answers questions of general interest in her column. You can write to: Jan Faull, c/o Families, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists |
#2
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Why kids should branch out and build tree houses
In article .com "Fred Goodwin, CMA" writes:
Why kids should branch out and build tree houses http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2003066741_faull17.html http://tinyurl.com/o8vwa Excellent, excellent! |
#3
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Why kids should branch out and build tree houses
I forgot to indicate the publication date: Saturday, June 17, 2006.
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#4
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AGREED build tree houses with your kids
I built a treehouse with my 6 and 8 year old sons over the past month.
Besides the preparations, being outside, and working hard. My sons sense of self has skyrocketed. All the neighbors want to come over and play in their treehouse with them. Its a project which never stops. the kids are always thinking what they can add, a table, a chair, a pulley, a swing, decorations. This beats computergames by 1000%, as long as YOU have the patience. Its worth it also for you. Fred Goodwin, CMA wrote: Why kids should branch out and build tree houses http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2003066741_faull17.html http://tinyurl.com/o8vwa By Jan Faull Special to The Seattle Times Did you build a tree house when you were a kid? While your home in the branches probably wasn't an architectural wonder, you probably had a memorable time planning, acquiring the materials and building it. You likely felt competent and in control, making adjustments as the structure progressed. Kids are driven to take on such a project because it somehow satisfies their need to utilize their growing developmental skills. They're able to try building a structure they've fantasized about living in or at least sleeping in on a warm summer night. While doing so, they imagine whether they'd be lonely or brave. They also challenge themselves physically by carrying and hoisting boards to the tree limbs and then pounding in nails to secure the structure. The social challenge of the process likely provides the most benefit. Kids face the challenges of problem-solving, negotiating, compromising and making decisions without adult guidance. They're left to pick a leader while calling on and using each other's emerging expertise. Deep friendships usually form along with the project. Kids between 8 and 10 years old begin the process of separating from parents. Some do so with a sign on their bedroom door that reads, "Keep Out." Others form secret clubs. Many yearn to take on the challenge of building a camp in the woods or a tree house in the backyard. Will your kids have the opportunity for such an adventure? One mom said she had built a tree house with her sister, but she would not support her children's interest in building such a structure, because she's afraid they'd fall or pound a nail in a finger. Other parents might fear that unsupervised youth building a tree house in the woods might attract adults that would do them harm. Today, parents might hope for a summer day camp where the kids are commissioned to build a tree house with the plans, supplies and organization provided by camp counselors who would oversee the project. Such an experience, although possibly valuable on one level, would be absurd on another. What kids this age truly seek is the freedom to tackle such projects on their own, whether they finish them, serve a purpose or look respectable. If you question the value of time spent building a free-form tree house, consider that the builders have the opportunity to learn about lumber, the importance of bracing the structure, hinges, nails, screws, ladders, pulleys, framing for windows and doors, sloping the roof to shed rain, the strength of materials, how to use a handsaw, the importance of measurement and how body size relates to the tree and the house it sits in. Even if the structure is only a few slabs of lumber hammered into a tree where the builders take their lunch and view the neighborhood from this perspective, it's still a gratifying memorable experience. If you'd like your children to have a tree-house building experience outside your backyard, but worry about predators, go with them to keep an eye on lurkers in the woods. If you provide such protection, take a book to read, and resist the tendency to take over the project. Building a tree house by adult standards rather than kids' is far less meaningful to the young builders. With kids today spending so much time hooked up to technology, parents need to take on the challenge of endorsing opportunities for safe adventures in natural settings. If you question the need of kids to do so, read Richard Louv's book "Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder" ($13.95, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill). Jan Faull, a specialist in child development and behavior, answers questions of general interest in her column. You can write to: Jan Faull, c/o Families, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists |
#5
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AGREED build tree houses with your kids
arze wrote:
I built a treehouse with my 6 and 8 year old sons over the past month. Besides the preparations, being outside, and working hard. My sons sense of self has skyrocketed. All the neighbors want to come over and play in their treehouse with them. Its a project which never stops. the kids are always thinking what they can add, a table, a chair, a pulley, a swing, decorations. This beats computergames by 1000%, as long as YOU have the patience. Its worth it also for you. My son and I started a treehouse last summer. He and his friends were very excited about it, and all of them pitched-in to help. We got about 75% of the way done with it, when I received a cease and desist notice from our neighborhood association. It seems a neighbor complained that the treehouse violated his privacy (he was concerned that the kids could see through the trees into the windows and doors of his home). We had to undo all the work we had done -- and I still can't get rid of the lumber. All it took was one neighbor complaining to ruin the fun for my son and his buddies. |
#6
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AGREED build tree houses with your kids
In article .com "Fred Goodwin, CMA" writes:
My son and I started a treehouse last summer. He and his friends were very excited about it, and all of them pitched-in to help. We got about 75% of the way done with it, when I received a cease and desist notice from our neighborhood association. It seems a neighbor complained that the treehouse violated his privacy (he was concerned that the kids could see through the trees into the windows and doors of his home). We had to undo all the work we had done -- and I still can't get rid of the lumber. All it took was one neighbor complaining to ruin the fun for my son and his buddies. I hope your son will egg and tp his house next Devil's Night! |
#7
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AGREED build tree houses with your kids
rcs8 wrote:
I hope your son will egg and tp his house next Devil's Night! As tempting as that sounds, my son is also a Boy Scout, and I don't think that "activity" fits in with the Scout Oath & Law! |
#8
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AGREED build tree houses with your kids
Fred Goodwin, CMA wrote:
rcs8 wrote: I hope your son will egg and tp his house next Devil's Night! As tempting as that sounds, my son is also a Boy Scout, and I don't think that "activity" fits in with the Scout Oath & Law! ----------- Neither does masturbating. Go ask him... Steve |
#9
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AGREED build tree houses with your kids
In article .com "Fred Goodwin, CMA" writes:
rcs8 wrote: I hope your son will egg and tp his house next Devil's Night! As tempting as that sounds, my son is also a Boy Scout, and I don't think that "activity" fits in with the Scout Oath & Law! You're right, of course, but back in my time, even as a Scout, we'd at least have soaped his windows! |
#10
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AGREED build tree houses with your kids
Fred Goodwin, CMA wrote: My son and I started a treehouse last summer. He and his friends were very excited about it, and all of them pitched-in to help. We got about 75% of the way done with it, when I received a cease and desist notice from our neighborhood association. It seems a neighbor complained that the treehouse violated his privacy (he was concerned that the kids could see through the trees into the windows and doors of his home). We had to undo all the work we had done -- and I still can't get rid of the lumber. All it took was one neighbor complaining to ruin the fun for my son and his buddies. Yeah. Same thing happened to a buddy of mine. Built a treehouse, neighbor complained, had to remove it. Kids were disappointed. Dunno why if someone builds a house overlooking a neighbor theres no problem, but if its a treehouse its gone. |
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