MommyGarten.com starts our summer schedule today.

Check back weekly for updates on summertime fun with your baby, toddler, and young child.

“After the people are gone, art is the only thing that’s left of a civilization.”

~Nia, 15 year-old World History student.

That comment by my daughter is a poignant insight to parenting. When our children leave our homes, what they leave behind for us to excavate is the most tangible summary of the days of development gone by.

A mere glimpse of the green handprint wreath painting instantly transports me back to the front row of the Peace Preschool holiday show. What looks like a stack of scribbled-up papers to others is obviously a sample of artwork pieces that show the progression of my daughter’s cognitive, creative, and motor development — and I-don’t-care how much room the boxes take up.

We’ve all heard about (or seen firsthand!) the kid who ditches the toy, and plays with the box instead.

Today’s blog post is for every parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent who has ever wondered why that happens.

MommyGarten.com will be on our Summer schedule, starting June 1.

Do continue to stop by MommyGarten.com all summer long — we will be unveiling Play Plans, a new MommyGarten feature!  Each Play Plan will be filled with tips for outdoor playing, indoor playing, water play, and much more!

But first, we’d like to spend this week reviewing key parenting lessons from days gone by.