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Why Can't We Just Play?

What I Did When I Realized My Kids Were Way Too Busy
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In Why Can't We Just Play?, Pam Lobley chronicles her attempt to give her two boys a summer free from scheduled activities, inspired by the simpler childhoods of the 1950s. Facing the frantic modern summer calendar, she questions whether an unstructured summer of play is possible in today's busy world. Through candid and humorous storytelling, she explores the challenges and joys of slowing down, the lessons from past parenting styles, and the importance of making time simply to play.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Why Can't We Just Play? will resonate with parents and families seeking a more relaxed approach to childhood and those curious about the cultural shifts in parenting styles. It is suitable for readers interested in family life, child development, and the balance between activity and downtime.

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In a culture where children are over scheduled and pressured constantly to achieve, what happens when you let your children do nothing at all? Pam Lobley decided to slow down and give her family a summer that was a throwback to the 1950s. Can she recreate

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Facing summer with her two boys, ages ten and seven, Pam Lobley was sifting through sign-ups for swim team, rec camp, night camp, scout camp, and enrichment classes. Overwhelmed at the choices, she asked her sons what they wanted to do during summer: “Soccer? Zoo School? Little Prodigy's Art Club?”

“Why can’t we just play?” they asked.

A summer with no scheduled activities at all... The thought was tempting, but was it possible? It would be like something out of the 1950s. Could they really have a summer like that?

Juggling the expectations of her husband (“Are you going to wear garters?”), her son, Sam (“I’m bored!”), and her son, Jack (“Can I just stay in my pyjamas?”), Pam sets out to give her kids an old-fashioned summer. During the shapeless days, she studies up on the myths and realities of the 1950s.

With her trademark wit and candour, she reveals what we can learn from those long-ago families, why raising kids has changed so drastically, and most importantly, how to stop time once in a while and just play.

Why Can't We Just Play? by Pam Lobley offers a thoughtful exploration into the dynamics of modern parenting against a nostalgic backdrop.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Brigid Schulte, author of Overwhelmed, praises Pam Lobley's honest and amusing account of giving her children the gift of boredom and learning to live in the moment. Reviewers highlight the book's humour and candidness in showing the highs and lows of a summer without obligations, noting its insightful commentary on the value of taking time off amid the pressures of modern family life.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781942934578

Publisher: Familius LLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 April 2016

Country: United States

Imprint: Familius LLC

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 12.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 226.0mm

Weight: 276g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Pam Lobley is a comedic writer of plays, columns, and books. Her memoir, Why Can't We Just Play? What I Did When I Realized My Kids Were Way Too Busy, details the year she let her stressed, over-scheduled children, take the summer off from their busy activities and “just” play. She lives in New Jersey with her husband—actor Bill Lobley—a dog, and an almost-empty nest.

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