Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Touchy Feely

Kids learn a lot about their world by touching. Poking, turning things around in their hands, squishing, squeezing, shaking, seeing how far something can twist or pull before-- oops.

I mean, that's why you see so many Sensory Bin ideas  on Pinterest. Young kids love to touch stuff.

It's true, and it's a wonderful thing. But sometimes it feels like you've taken an octopus to the restaurant.



Reaching limbs everywhere. So much tactile learning in a toddler's reach radius. Restaurants, earring displays, produce pyramids... It's irresistible. Touch touch touch. No Impulse Buy rack goes unfondled if they have something to say about it.

It doesn't always stop with toddlerhood, either. but we went to the National Gallery a while back on a Family Pass. I think it's great for kids to experience all sorts of places in the city. Naturally, as good citizens, we also need to observe the required respectful behaviour. When it comes to the art gallery and all of their irreplaceable works on display, Just Looking with Eyes is a big part of it.

Actually, Just Looking with Eyes is pretty much all of it. That's a lot to ask of a four-year-old in a place full of colourful, shiny, textured, dangly stuff. Big Bro didn't find it easy.


And he did.

4 comments:

  1. Sometimes it's hard for adults not to touch stuff at the Art Gallery, I can't imagine being four. Do you have any idea how much I wanted to touch the first Renoir I saw?? To just reach out and feel the frame? To be able to say, "I touched a Renoir."

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    1. Yes, they are very inviting in that way! I once had a guard get after me at the art gallery because there was a painting with radio dials on it and I touched the dials. I didn't even realize I was doing it. Pretty irresistible... I can't imagine being four either!

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  2. I can't count the number of times I've said "DO YOU HAVE TO KEEP TOUCHING EVERYTHING?" The inner shit-disturber in me totally gets off on getting as close as I can to the paintings just to see the guards get antsy. Yes, I get that touching them isn't good, but geez, man, most people aren't here to throw ox blood on the art, chill out a little.

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    1. Ha... I like it. No kidding. I commented before that they pounce on you like you're about to assassinate the president.

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