Last week, I had the distinct pleasure of seeing an adult man pretend, just for a brief instance, that he was a dinosaur ballerina.

On Friday, the Dowagiac District Library held their third “Storytime at the Sculptures” event, where Director Jacob Munford read three storybooks to a group of kids huddled together near the “Dance of Creation” sculpture at Farr Park. It was the first one I had stopped by, and I’m glad that I did.

The combination of the lovely outdoor setting and the colorful stories about dancing brontosauruses and soccer playing unicorns was perfect for an enjoyable summer morning of local kids. I had a lot of fun listening to the stories myself, so I can only imagine how enjoyable experience must have been to the kids sitting underneath the tree.

These kids weren’t at home watching TV or playing on daddy’s iPad — they were stimulating their imaginations while taking in some fresh air.

These kinds of activities are a perfect fit for kids during summer time, giving them something productive to do while roaming the beautiful landscapes in our city. With school now officially out, the need for these things are even greater.

This summer, it would be great to see parents help get their kids involved with summer reading programs, junior athletics or other types of programs that keep their minds sharp and their blood flowing. It would also be heartening to see more organizations like the Library step up to provide venues for kids to channel their energy into during the long break from school.

The three months between school years may seem to fly by quickly for many kids, but, if they spend their time wisely, there’s a whole lot they can accomplish.

 

Ted Yoakum is the community editor for the Dowagiac Daily News. Call him at (269) 687-7706. Email him at ted.yoakum@leaderpub.com.