February 5, 2011

Mystery of Life # 423

There is a park by our house that has three jungle gyms, a basketball court, and a public restroom with an electric hand dryer.

Explain this to me:

Why, when my kids have all of these toys at their disposal, do they (and all their friends) prefer to play with the dead bird carcass?




I don't understand.

17 comments

Anonymous said...

At least they knew not to touch it bare handed....???

Sally said...

Ewww! I wish I had an explanation. My daughter is attracted to playground trash. I'm stumped at that too.

Erin said...

Forbidden fruit?

Kerrie (and Jason) said...

Xame reason that you buy some expensive fancy present and they play with the box or the wrapping paper. Think of all the money you will save on their next birthday's though.. ;)

Jen Harms Wilson said...

The jungle gyms, the basketball court, and the public restroom are always there. The dead bird is new, different, and fascinating. How often do you get a chance to see an animal up close, without fear that it will bite you of run away? Seeing how the feathers and the limbs sit differently in death than in life. With trash, watching how it changes as it decomposed and disintegrates. Kids don't know enough about germs and diseases to be afraid, so I can totally see how that is interesting.

With presents, it is feeling the textures and hearing the noises associated with the destruction of wrapping paper - something that you are allowed to completely tear apart and destroy without getting into trouble. The gift that it contained will still be yours later, but the paper and boxes are going to disappear probably within the day.

Q said...

cuz kids are weird??? I dunno. I don't have any.

Emily Heizer Photography said...

When I was in elementry school (in the primary grades (3rd grade and under) I created my own "neighborhood animal burial ground" next to my neighbor's driveway and collected the neighborhood's dead rats, birds, broken eggs, lizards, misc. body parts, whatever, made little crosses and crucifixes out of sticks, twigs or used Popsicle sticks and buried them, much to the horror of my elderly neighbor, who complained repeatedly to my mother. I even was so nice as to steal my mother's sharpies and write on the sticks, "Here lies a dead bird" "Dead rat" "Lizard guts squished by car" so everyone would know what exactly was in this graveyard next to the old hag's driveway.

What can I say? We were cool. We also needed to wash our hands ALOT MORE in retrospect...

myevil3yearold said...

When you figure it out let me know

Janet's page said...

I was going to say boys, but Emily ruined that for me, I agree with another cuz kids are nasty!!

Laura, Ben, and family said...

Children have an innate sense - if it'll gross mommy out, it's fun to play with!

Amelie said...

If this is a sign for their future jobs!? Doctor? CSI? Love Amelie

NanaGo said...

Man Made vs Mother Nature. Mother always wins. There is no mystery in man made objects. But mother nature makes some really mysterious things that are worth investigation, study and. . .Best of all. . . exploiting. . .like throwing the dead carcass on your sister, or better yet, bringing it home to Mom. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

I run an in-home daycare. I have lots of fun toys and activities. The kids' favorite toy? A 50 year old mattress that I let them jump on.

Mrs. Tuna said...

For the same reason they can change their clothes in the porta potty.

Jennifer said...

We found a dead, frozen goose in our yard last week, after the snow storm. My daughter was very unhappy that I got rid of it before she had a chance to finish investigating it. She was also bewildered that I made her wash her hands. Sheesh.

JD said...

kids only want waht they aren't supposed to have.

Anonymous said...

How did you get a Denver Broncos fan for a son? I doubt you remember me but I wrote one time to tell you we are practically twins. But I missed we had a Colorado connection if there is one. =)