Earlier today (it was a beautiful day) the kids played “pirate’s lair” in the backyard with a couple of the neighbor kids. I snapped a few pictures to illustrate what it looks like when kids play pirates in the ghetto, with no real toys when using their imaginations.

Zoe and fellow “good” pirate, Sean, used the deck for a lookout:

Items needed for pirate look-out:

*A barstool for makeshift eagle’s nest.

*Old viewmaster = pirate binoculars.

*The hammer (which they had just finished using during a rousing game of “break rocks on the sidewalk”…) was the pirate weapon of choice for their team. I stressed that the hammer was for display and intimidation only. No “bad” pirates were to be chased with the hammer.

*A flower, to spruce up the joint. Pirate lookouts can tend to be drab.

Next, the passageway to the pirate lookout must be riddled with booby traps, to throw off the opposing pirate crew:

Good items for booby traps: an old glove that was finally uncovered after months of being buried under snow, an old kitchen rug, a pink Barbie garden trowel, and an orange soccer cone. Gets the bad guys every time…

And for the main event, the “bad” team’s pirate ship!!

Because in the ghetto when using your imagination,

rusty wheelbarrow + soccer goal = kick ass pirate ship.

Arrr, mateys… that’s how we roll…

2 Comments »

1. You know, even with toys all around, Julia still goes for plain old stuff when she’s really into using her imagination. It’s good for their creativity!

   Comment by Leslie — March 19, 2008 @ 7:50 pm

2. I remember when you all were little - playing in the backyard with sticks, an old kitchen sink, a lady bug walker, and super heroes capes — it didn’t get much better than that … at least your kids look bathed!
   luv, mom

   Comment by Mom — March 28, 2008 @ 4:47 am

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