For Us, It’s Shopping. For Tieri, It’s Sightseeing

“I want to go to the store.”

Tieri loves saying that. Every weekend, particularly on Sundays after church, we head to the store to shop for the week. For us, it’s a routine, stocking up on groceries, household items, and essentials. But for Tieri, it’s something more.

As he grows older, I see that these store visits are not just about errands for him. They are an opportunity to play, explore, and engage in sightseeing, to behold beauty. The stores are massive, brightly lit, and filled with captivating displays. There’s something about walking through well-lit, colourful spaces that excites him.

I remember when he used to sit in the cart, content with watching from a distance. But now? He wants to walk, touch things, greet people, and fully immerse himself in the experience.

Three Key Lessons From Watching Tieri:

1. Children Are Born to Play: Play is a fundamental part of childhood. Children seek every opportunity to engage, explore, and interact with their surroundings. What we see as a simple store visit, they experience as an adventure. More importantly, they instinctively choose their own type of play, whether it’s running through aisles, touching different textures, or marvelling at bright colours.
2. Children Are Drawn to Beauty: From my experience with Tieri, as well as with nieces and nephews I helped raise, I’ve noticed that children are naturally attracted to beautiful places. God has placed in us the desire to experience beauty, and children, in particular, respond to it with awe and excitement. Well-designed, colourful, and bright environments inspire their sense of wonder and contribute to their well-being.
3. Sightseeing is a Vital Part of Play: Play isn’t just about toys and structured activities, it includes exploration, discovery, and interaction with new environments. Sightseeing is an essential part of play because it:

• Stimulates imagination: A trip to a store, zoo, or museum fuels their creativity, inspiring role-playing and storytelling.
• Boosts cognitive development: Visiting new places helps children connect what they see with what they learn, enhancing their observation skills, memory, and problem-solving abilities.
• Encourages social interaction: Engaging with people and their surroundings enhances communication skills, cooperation, and empathy.
• Supports physical development: Walking, running, climbing, and exploring improve motor skills and overall health.
• Provides emotional and mental benefits: Exposure to new, beautiful, open spaces reduces stress, lifts mood, and promotes emotional regulation.
• Enhances cultural awareness: Visiting different places broadens their worldview, helping them understand and appreciate diversity.

Final Thoughts:

For us, it may just be a trip to the store. But for Tieri, it is a journey of discovery.

This is a reminder that children see the world differently from us. Their everyday experiences are opportunities for play, learning, and growth. As parents, guardians, and caregivers, it is our responsibility not just to ensure their play is safe but also to recognize and nurture their innate curiosity.

Sightseeing is not just leisure, it is an essential part of childhood. It aligns with the broader concept of play as a fundamental right of every child, as recognized by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 31).

And as I watch Tieri’s eyes light up in a beautifully lit store, I am reminded that sometimes, the simplest things hold the greatest joy for a child.