Elder and Sister Asay: Go Outside and Play!

This post is dedicated to my grand children.

May they be blessed with as much creativity as these children

when their mothers tell them to...

"Go outside and play!"

In Africa, boys think that the best toys begin with a tire! They are just so versatile. You can sit in it while your brother kicks it...

Your brother can push it for you, and you can steer it by holding a stick on each side of it... (And yes, the girls like to watch this macho behavior.)

If you don't have a fat tire, a skinny tire will do...

If you don't have a tire...make one out of old flip flops. Attach a couple of them to the end of a bamboo stick and voila...an...I-don't-know-what!

But I think every boy has one of these.

A car on a pull-string is made from an old gallon jug with flip flop tires. This one has a "trunk" where you can hide your treasures.

You don't see too many children that own a bike, so it only makes sense that you see many children on it when you do! I haven't seen any helmets or any other kind of protective gear.

These wagons are used when a load is too big for a head, and too big for a wheel barrow...and you don't have a truck! When the wagon isn't working, you can ride them down hills, but I haven't seen how they stop them without any brakes. Yikes!

Then of course there is football (soccer). I guess you don't need anything fancy... like a nice soft, grassy field, uniforms, shin guards or even shoes? Rocks just make the road rash more interesting!

The beach is a great place to cool off. Surprisingly, not very many people here know how to swim. I haven't seen any swimming suits, snorkles, goggles, beach towels or toys.

I've seen many gymnastics and acrobatic exercise games played on the beach by friends of all age groups. They like to entertain...for a small fee :)

Now on to another natural resource...give your brother a ride on a palm branch. Maybe he will return the favor!

Or stand in line for a hour or two while you wait for your turn to have Elder Asay cut a design in your leaf with his Leatherman.

Content smiles come from home made dolls; I haven't seen any other kind.

It's fun to watch girls play a "clapping game" It's kind of like rock, paper, scissors but it involves jumping and clapping. It's so subtle but so quick - I haven't figured out all of the rules yet. No worries, just make up your own.

Dancing and singing is always fun.

There aren't too many regulation basketball courts here, but they are pretty serious about the game!

Lisa is practicing her beauty salon skills on my hair - but I'm afraid it's pretty hopeless!

This little guy is resting in the shade on his man-made recliner (Elder Asay). Elder Asay is doing his leg extension exercises. It's a win-win!

I love to see siblings (or friends) walking down the street with their arm around each other - surprisingly this happens daily. Just hanging out is fun!