The girls' school had a Bush Dance on last night. It is an annual fund raising event, however for some reason it has been a couple of years since we went.
Anyway, we bought tickets and went along last night. The event was set up on the school oval and it was nicely done. The band was set up sort of centrally and various stalls were around the edge. There was also a Bouncy Castle for the kids ($5 unlimited play). My youngest wanted to go on the Bouncy Castle, my eldest just wanted to find her friends to hang out with.
The music was playing, all the kids were running around having fun and the adults were eating and talking. I reckon there was about 80% of the school there including all the teachers.
At some point, one of the kids discovered that one of the stall were selling toy guns. There were two styles - an AK47, which made a noise when you pulled the trigger - and a revolver. Well, within minutes heaps of kids had guns. My girls wanted one each - and at $3 I thought they were a reasonable price. So they got one each.
Kids were everywhere, pretending to shoot each other ... creeping around hay bales, sneaking up on each other. Guns were getting shared and swapped and everyone was having fun. One of the little boys bought a Nun dress up costume and was running around in that with the AK47 - it was absolutely hilarious.
My eldest proudly came up to me at once stage to tell me that she think she had managed to 'shoot' all the teachers that were there.
During the four hours were were there, I didn't see a single kid crying about anything, or being left out of a game or whatever. Kids without guns where being lent guns by other kids and everyone was just having fun.
Some of the kids were dancing or playing with other toys instead of the guns but no one was getting upset with anything. It was really nice to see a community having fun.
The event was alcohol and smoke free. Which in someways was a bit sad - it would have been nice to sit back with a beer or a glass of wine and just watch the kids. But on the other hand it was nice to see no silliness and drunken behaviour.
5 comments:
Sounds like a fantastic time! No parents were upset by the toy guns? Now THAT'S miraculous.
Oddly enough, this would not have been allowed in most of the US--We've got stupid Zero Tolerance policies in most schools that not only forbid real guns, but also toys that look a bit like guns, even during non-school hours.
Sevesteen, I agree. When I was a kid, our school carnival had a BB gun shooting booth. Now kids are suspended for making a pistol with their fingers.
Glad you had a good time. I know what you mean about the beer. I've always said that the water park at our zoo would be great on a hot day if the parents could enjoy a cold one while the kids played.
Good times! And the kids CAN play together and share... :-)
Sounds like a nice afternoon. Doubly so with no Nanny Stater swooping in to confiscate the EVILE toy guns.
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