I always felt sorry for the people in wheelchairs. Some people, old and weak, cannot get around by themselves. Others seem perfectly healthy, dressed in business suits. But whenever I saw someone in a wheelchair, I only saw a disability,not a person.
Then I fainted(昏倒) at Euro Disney due to low blood pressure. This was the first time I had ever fainted, and my parents said that I must rest for a while after first aid. I agreed to take it easy, but as I stepped toward the door, I saw my dad pushing a wheelchair in my direction! Feeling the colour burn my cheeks, I asked him to wheel that thing right back to where he found it.
I could not believe this was happening to me. Wheelchairs were fine for other people but not for me. As my father wheeled me out into the main street, people immediately began to treat me differently.
Little kids ran in front of me, forcing my father to stop the wheelchair suddenly. Bitterness set in as I was thrown back and forth.
"Stupid kids! They have perfectly good legs. Why can't they watch where they are going?"I thought. People stared down at me,pity in their eyes. Then they would look away, maybe because they thought the sooner they forgot me the better.
"I'm just like you!" I wanted to scream. "The only difference is that you've got legs,and I have wheels."
People in wheelchairs are not stupid. They see every look and hear each word. Looking out at the faces, I finally understood: I was once just like them. I treated people in wheelchairs exactly the way they did not want to be treated. I realized it is some of us with two healthy legs who are truly disabled.
It's time to teach kids how to play. Play can teach them important life skills. Their imagination will also be inspired.
Play a game. Dig out your board games. Checkers, chess and Monopoly are all great games.
Hands-on fun. Bring out playdough (橡皮泥). Your children may roll their eyes at this one, but you would be surprised at how they will sit down and keep themselves entertained with it.
Build something. Lego, Lincoln Logs and K'NEX. How many of our kids still have these in the back of their closets? Try building something using toothpicks and connecting them together with glue. As the things you build dry, they become stronger and you can keep them around for a while.
Go outdoors. Outdoor games like marbles and hopscotch not only interest your kids, they will also improve coordination (协调) skills. Too hot or cold out? The garage, basement or kitchen floors will be OK, too.
Become an outdoor artist. Buy a box of colored chalk from the local store and let your kids create their own works on your front or back sidewalks. Take pictures of them for your family album.
Are these new ideas? Of course not. But when our kids are given a choice of any of these “offline” activities or the chance to watch TV or play computer games, what are they going to choose? When you unplug your kids, they will learn how to play again simply because they have nothing else to do. They will find other activities to keep themselves entertained.