In a radio interview this week, I was asked to describe our household at the beginning of half-term, and the phrase 'pyjama time' popped into my mind. As in 'we enjoy plenty of pyjama time during school holidays', as in 'I don't see any reason to organise my children's break with a timetable crammed with improving and stimulating activities', as in 'I believe (and always have, even when they were little) that allowing them to get well and truly bored is the best way to get them reading, making, observing, inventing or simply thinking'.
So we are getting out the quilts and knitted blankets, looking for our cosiest pyjamas and most comfortable clothes, hunting for our favourite warm socks, and buying in the Ovaltine, books and magazines because we are going to be busy doing very little at all.
HORRAY! and AMEN SISTER! How wise you are.
Posted by: Susan | October 23, 2009 at 14:13
That sounds lovely. I could do with some "pyjama time."
Posted by: fillyjonk | October 23, 2009 at 14:42
Completely agree with you. So much of the "busy-ness" everyone claims these days is totally self-inflicted by not allowing children to just "be"
Posted by: AlisonK | October 23, 2009 at 14:44
This sounds like heaven. Enjoy.
Posted by: Jaimie | October 23, 2009 at 15:16
I completely agree, I think it is great for kids to be bored, it really jumpstarts their imagination. I believe that children do so much better when they have time and opportunity to just be, or create, or explore. Hope you all have a wonderful break.
Posted by: Jennifer | October 23, 2009 at 15:20
I'm glad I popped by. I was beginning to feel guilty about my 4yr old sitting at the kitchen table doing some doodling in her pajamas at 3.30pm. She's wants to be cosy today. I'm with you, they have all their adult life to be scheduled and organised. Childhood is for breaking the rules.
Posted by: little pink room | October 23, 2009 at 15:34
Here, here! My boys have had to make their own entertainment since they were tiny, and are the most imaginative children I know. Half term should surely be all about relaxing and learning to be at home all day again.
Posted by: Nicky | October 23, 2009 at 15:36
We've always called them duvet days. Not necessarily in bed under the duvet but certainly not the getting dressed bit!
Enjoy your half term!
Posted by: Gemma | October 23, 2009 at 15:38
Totally agree.Children must be given time to entertain themselves and not always be organised.Have a great week with lots of reading, crafting etc and generally chilling out.
Posted by: busybusybeejay | October 23, 2009 at 15:53
Love to hear this! I always believed that children who get bored learn to amuse themselves, and if that doesn't happen until they are teens, then they may find "less-than-constructive" amusements. Amen to letting them "just be"! Also, what is Half-term?
Posted by: Rose | October 23, 2009 at 16:04
Couldn't agree more,have a lovely half term.
Sue
Posted by: sue | October 23, 2009 at 16:16
I couldn't agree more with you. When I studied to be a health visitor a few years ago, I wrote a dissertation on Play, one of my findings was that children are oftened over stimulated and entertained which hinders the development of quality imaginative play.
We will certainly have a couple of PJ days, to allow a bit of space and time for them to relax and play and enjoy each other x
Posted by: lucy | October 23, 2009 at 16:37
I'd like more pyjama time. Especially with such a cosy looking quilt.
Posted by: Sarah Jane | October 23, 2009 at 16:46
What wonderful words and all these people who agree - I have blanked out whole days in the diary over half term and said polite apologies for not being able to go places all to ensure we get our fair supply of pyjama time! Hope you enjoy yours :)
Posted by: Mousy Brown | October 23, 2009 at 17:10
Oh I loved this post. This is exactly what we do. The first day of every holiday is designated Pyjama Day. Can't understand all these "what to do in half-term" articles. Relax! Read! Not a lot!
Posted by: Deb@carrotsandkids | October 23, 2009 at 17:39
Sounds like heaven. I need a mid-term break too!
Posted by: CashmereLibrarian | October 23, 2009 at 17:45
I agree with you, children should be aloud to discover things in their own time without being organised!
Posted by: Julie | October 23, 2009 at 18:08
I just finished reading your book. I enjoyed it immensely, and I would like to thank you for making the term "domestic artist." I do believe that will be a theme of my own for a long time.
Two other things. I did have to look up sybarite in the dictionary. You also inspired me to learn to knit and expand my crocheting to other patterns.
I actually have a pretty long list of interests that your book generated.
I love learning...
Posted by: Karen Deborah | October 23, 2009 at 18:40
I do believe we subscribe to the same philosophy!! When my girls complain of boredom, I ALWAYS reply with, "Boredom is the Gateway to Creativity!" (Drives them mad...but it's so true!)
Have fun!
♥
Posted by: Martha | October 23, 2009 at 18:41
I couldn't agree more with your words. And photo :)
Posted by: rosa | October 23, 2009 at 18:49
I completely agree! We have regular pajama days here. The only requirement? A good supply of cute, warm & comfy jammies.
Posted by: Laura Bray | October 23, 2009 at 19:29
Everyone needs pyjama days. Among my friends, we call them mental health days. Otherwise we get physically sick. At least that's what happened to me last week.
Took a few days off, drank tea with lots of honey, stayed at home, knit and watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel the Series, and Leverage on DVD.
Posted by: Red | October 23, 2009 at 19:51
that sounds like my idea of absolute bliss!
x
Posted by: wonderwoman | October 23, 2009 at 20:47
Oh it's so true, my Littles came straight home from school into the PJ's, piled up the 'cosyquilts' on the sofa and started making lists of what they wanted to make over half term, you can't beat 'making' and 'doing'!
Posted by: debs@makedoandmendquilts | October 23, 2009 at 21:55
Here here! Back over on this side of the pond pyjama time has always been almost sacred!
Posted by: Denise Moulun-Pasek | October 23, 2009 at 22:36
Be normal, be natural, enjoy being at home to rest and dream, not frenetic and fearful you will miss out, just a great post.
Posted by: Margot K of VA | October 23, 2009 at 22:52
Our weekends were a bit like that as well when the kids were younger. We loved it.
So many families drag their kids to stuff every single day, then weekends and holidays: sport, languages, extra tuition, music, dancing, drama.
Pity a lot of 'em never worried about teaching their busy, exhausted kids good manners while they were grooming them for the master-race!
Posted by: Lesley | October 23, 2009 at 23:59
My husband introduced me to 'pyjama days' of which I had never heard. Since he has often minded the children over school holidays, it is now the 'rule' that the first day is always pyjama day. The only challenge is to see who can stay in bed longest (a book or five may be read during this time).
Posted by: frog | October 24, 2009 at 04:34
Thanks Jane for this post. My patience has been tested by eager, noisy 8 year-old making a house for Alvin (chipmunk) since 7am this morning. This involves much chucking around kitchen of cardboard recycling plus noisy whispered requests in sleepy Mum's ear-"where's the sticky tape?", "Can I borrow your scissors?". You and your commenters have reminded me to be grateful for her imagination and resourcefulness. Happy half-term to you all.
Posted by: Donna | October 24, 2009 at 08:09
I've spent the last ten years enjoying the school hols in my nightie til mid-day and revelling totally in the doing nothing, no schedules, no learning, no anything, and even damn it letting the kids get too much tv for once....sigh oh what a terrible 70's mother am I...we must not of course admit we have a tv at all...
and most of all boo to quality time!
enjoy your pj's, ovaltine, no schedules and quilts
Posted by: sarah | October 24, 2009 at 12:41
We have had enforced PJ time this week as myself (at 38 weeks pregnant), my husband and my 2 year old all have flu. I want to thank you for your book 'The Gentle Art of Domesticity'. A little flick through it yesterday when I was at my lowest ebb reminded me that there was still beauty in the world!
Posted by: Emma Woo | October 24, 2009 at 12:45
The summers are so long here in the US. People constantly ask me what we did this summer and I tell them we did NOTHING. Sure we went to the beach, and ate out in the garden, but essentially I let the kids get really REALLY bored and then they just kept themselves occupied- making, reading, playing, building etc. The PERFECT summer as far as I'm concerned.
Posted by: Georgia | October 24, 2009 at 12:45
sometimes rather late in the morning I realize we're all still in our pj's & I'll ask one of the kids - are we getting dressed or is it a pj day? Sometimes we just determine it a pj day. Which is SO good when it's just because - not because someone's sick or something.
Posted by: Sarah P | October 24, 2009 at 17:33
This sounds heavenly. I'm glad there are so many others who don't buy into the need to get kids in every activity available. Enjoy your snuggle time!
Posted by: Kristin | October 24, 2009 at 18:51
absolutely and entirely true but so important...good pyjamas days and half term...
Posted by: carole-virginie | October 24, 2009 at 19:55
Hello Jane. I enjoy all your photos but this one is my favorite so far. Maybe it's the perfect combination of so many colors and textures but perhaps most of all it's because it captures the inexpressible comfort of home. It's not half-term down here in Melbourne but Sunday, the next-best thing!
Posted by: Barbara | October 25, 2009 at 01:55
Exactly ! Aftr being dragooned and organised at school , they need to spread out and relax . And then , if there's an outing , it's a rare treat and really enjoyed .
Besides , tartan pyjamas are definitely chicer than trackies .
Posted by: SmitoniusAndSonata | October 25, 2009 at 07:07
Hi Jane Just found your blog & what a great post to srrive on I so agree with you & all your commenters I feel so sorry for organised children...They need time to just be children ...plus a bit of boredom in school hols especially at the end always means they are itching to get back to school ( well thats what I found) :)
Posted by: quiltygal | October 25, 2009 at 11:59
Oh yes I couldn't agree more. In our house we call them blobby days, enjoy.
Posted by: Bertie | October 25, 2009 at 23:33
I've listened to the radio program and feel it is a shame they did not understand your book or the ways in which women can find pleasure in making. I feel totally inspired by The Gentle Art of Domesticity, with lots of pages marked and aspiring to learn many of the arts you describe. Looking forward to your quilting book.
Posted by: Nicky | October 26, 2009 at 07:21
What a lovely post, Jane and it's my experience too. What I'm finding most encouraging here is the number of comments from so many other folk who think the same way!
Posted by: mindfulbeader | October 26, 2009 at 14:09
I totally agree. I always told my friends that I was NOT my children's recreational director. And I never got them involved in sports until they said they wanted to.
Posted by: Marsha Kruze | October 27, 2009 at 04:17
Hello Jane,
Where and when will the interview be aired? I'd love to hear it!
Thanks!
Posted by: Marlies | October 28, 2009 at 00:06
It's taken until nearly the end of the half term week, but you're right once teenagers are bored creativity will happen. One 14 yr old is drawing, one 11 yr old is reading a book!
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