Took on a whole new meaning by the psychedelic era

Reports are coming in to our research facility indicating an encouraging growth trend in non formalised school holiday activities. As far as we can tell no children we know of in our extensive survey were entrusted to any formal holiday programme or euphemistically referred ‘day care activity centre’. This is an encouraging trend, and indicates once again the value of ‘throwing the charges outside’ so to speak, in order that they amuse themselves.

Also, and this is encouraging the school holidays have not entirely spent devoted to electronic devices. This is also good news. Though reading, and compositional story telling may still be in decline, we are encouraged to report that the following activities have been reported to us, which indicates that improvisation and imagination are still valued. we list them in now preferred order.

Ball throwing. The ancient art of kick to kick. Still very popular.

Walking has been observed, either as a practical from ‘a to b’ scenario, or as part of an improvisational activity encompassing discovery, adventure,and some risk taking.

Bicycle riding. Bicycle still utilised as principle form of physical and engagement externality activity. Stone throwing still evergreen, and breaking glass still evidenced as ultimate reward. Improvised explosive development and manufacture was observed with various ignition techniques, fire, sudden impact and accelerant, most favoured procedure.

Nick knocking. Age old practice observed in several instances, accompanied by running and hiding. Story telling, improvisational scenarios employed successfully to mask nature of previously cited scenarios. Television watching, traditional ritual observed on frequent occasions, between heightened activity phases. Shooting, general shooting, air rife, and twenty two under supervised conditions. Bow and arrow skill, cognitive and physical enhancement. Balloon blowing, and puncturing.

Improvised boat making, and sinking observed via rock and immersion processes. Running, observed and documented. Jumping, as per running. Falling over, as a consequence of ball activity or general ‘Horseing around”.

Cooking, low level sandwich and baked beans delivery. Doing dishes, occasionally, under duress. Construction, of models, and improvisation with ‘bits of stuff’, (objects) ‘hanging around’.

As was observed traditional holiday activities are still practised on a regular basis with preference to improvisation and physical properties of doing things with ‘stuff’. We note with encouragement that none of these activities are part of any established school ATAR assessment process. Which proves once again the holidays constitute a heightened educative function infinitely more productive than standard education practice of rote learning and dull bludgeoning acquiescence. A victory for fun and common sense.