The Evolution of Play

While we meet friends to play each week, it's rare that much "playing together" actually goes on. I know that's normal for toddlers, and that most play is in parallel, not together in the way we all think of play. Recently I've had a few glimpses of Ryan and Lucie engaging in more active play with some of their little buddies, and it's a blast to watch. (Can you tell I majored in the Social Sciences?)

We've been getting together with Logan (six months older than R & L) since my guys were babies. The last time we met we saw something new in their interactions. After about a half an hour of doing their usual thing (watching each other in the sand box), they began to play a game together. Logan would run back and forth, while Ryan and Lucie chased him, everyone giggling. Next, anything that Logan would do (eat lunch, jump, etc.), Lucie and Ryan would do too. My guys idolize anyone bigger, faster, and stronger than them, and were thrilled about their morning with Logan.

Ryan and Lucie see their twins playgroup one to two times a week. Sometimes there can be as many as 16 to 20 toddlers there which means lots of parallel play. Again, there have been recent glimpses of interactions lately that remind us of how much everyone is growing and learning.

Last week a bunch of them set off on a stroller pushing parade up and over the hill. On the way back Ryan saw a dog and started talking about our friends' dog who we had just seen this weekend. I reminded him that Sadie (in the blue striped shirt) had dogs and here's what followed (with some prompting from me):

Ryan: "Sadie, dogs? Names?"
Sadie: "Tyson and Canyon"
Ryan: "Kingston...peanut butter" (Kingston is our friends' dog who once enjoyed some of Ryan's PB & J)
Sadie: "Tyson and Canyon...dog food!"

It was a short and sweet conversation, but had a big impact on Ryan. Ever since he's been talking about Sadie and her dogs who love "dog food". What will they all say next week?