November 8, 2011

Solid Playmates

 You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long?  Never in his life will he be so busy again.
~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Genevan philosopher, 1712-1778
 We spend the first twelve months of our children's lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve years telling them to sit down and shut up.
~ Phyllis Diller, American comedian, 1917-
Kaiping, 2011
Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play. 
~ Michel de Montaigne, French writer, 1533-1592
I captured these children at play in a park in Kaiping a few weeks ago. Linking with Our World Tuesday.

31 comments:

Photo Cache said...

spectacular people watching post. I love these kinds of posts.

Anonymous said...

Thankfully many of the things that cloud our minds do not cloud a child's mind. They have more important things to do. ~Mary

Kay L. Davies said...

Aren't they wonderful? I love the little boy in the first two photos.
Statues like these stimulate the imagination, they don't replace it, the way video games do.

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

Pat Tillett said...

These are great candid photos! I totally agree about kids. They start out full of wonder, joy and openess. Then life slowly beats it out of them. Sad...

Indrani said...

These are great captures. So much innocence. Very well taken.

tapirgal said...

These are wonderful photos and you've created a really interesting post with the quotes. I know it takes time, and you've made another special entry.

Rajesh said...

Wonderful images of kids having all the fun.

Pinay Tambay said...

Kids looks very happy and busy playing, it's so nice to be a kid again. LOL! Thanks!

carol l mckenna said...

Great photos and wonderful quotes ~ Wisdom comes rather late ~ sometimes ~thanks,namaste, CArol (A Creative Harbor)

Sylvia K said...

Superb, delightful captures, Cisca!! And the perfect words for each one! What a delightful post for the day! I can always use a smile this big to wind down my day! Thank you! Have a beautiful week!

Sylvia

Andrea said...

It's really amazing how kids can really be happy with those static rocks which doesn't respond in any way. When i watch kids playing with the hard figure of Jollibee or McDonalds, i can't understand why. It can be better to play with mascots which move and respond to them. But it is fun for adults to observe them!

Luna Miranda said...

your photos and selected quotes made me smile. i often observe how serious kids are when they are playing. i wonder why "play" has become something altogether different for adults.:p

Ebie said...

How delightful to see the kids act just like kids.

cieldequimper said...

Fantastic post.

And I had forgotten Rousseau's family had fled France for Geneva, before he came back.

Andy said...

Francisca, you have some great photos here today. For someone as old as me childhood is a small portion of my life but they contain some of most happiest carefree fun times.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

These shots are some of my favorites of yours. That Phyllis Diller quote is timelessly excellent!

Veronica said...

wow so cute and I love they way they hardly notice you....

Veronica
Tassels Twigs and Tastebuds

Penelope Notes said...

Those children playing that are frozen in time are delightful statues that trigger the youthful spirit in us all … but especially the truly young!

Kaori said...

So true. That boy looks very serious about getting a perfect bubble! :D

Anonymous said...

What gorgeous shots - I love seeing the joy of children at play.

EG CameraGirl said...

The children do look so very happy. I think I must be into my second childhood...or maybe I haven't ever left my first one. :))

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Wonderful shots! I can almost hear the kids' thoughts as they play with their "solid companions". I love the quotes too.

T. Becque said...

Nicely captured and said/quoted.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Kids play with anything and anywhere. Girls in my school climb trees.

Oakland Daily Photo said...

I once lived behind a school yard. I loved hearing the kids playing at recess. A joyful noise.

Vicki/Jake said...

Oh, the innocence and playfullness of childhood. If only we could keep it for always, what a different world we would live in...

genie said...

This is one of those warm and fuzzy posts that pulls at my heartstrings. What a wonderful series of photos to put a smile on a grandmother’s face. I love everything about it including the words. genie

Tina´s PicStory said...

nice pics! :)

Unknown said...

Great set of lovely captures!

Traveling Hawk said...

Very inspired and inspiring photos!

Ingrid said...

These kids make you smile!! :))