Fishing in Alaska is hard work. No matter how much they might want to help out, the kids aren’t quite big or strong enough yet to contribute. So what does your average 1, 3, or 5-year-old do keep busy on the tundra?
Why, visit the “jungle gym” of course. The kids dubbed this abandoned boat trailer their “jungle gym” on our first day there, and we visited it daily.
It seemed the preferred jungle gym activity was doing laps around the perimeter.
And jumping off the far end onto the spongy ground below.
August tried his hand on the jungle gym a few times, but mostly, he was just content to watch.
And then there was the playground, a series of homemade swings contrived by our neighbor and genius builder Vern.
Buoy swings.
And tire swings.
We bought up a rocket launcher that was a big hit with the kids.
Kato was the primary launcher.
Whereas August focused on retrieval missions.
And preparing the rockets for launch.
Another favorite pastime was climbing on the enormous abandoned vehicles that are to be found anywhere.
Not all fun is outdoors. We do watch the occasional movie.
And do the occasional coloring.
And occasional connect-the-dots.
And read the occasional book.
Eating is another preoccupation.
Especially when our neighbor Yao brings chocolate cake.
The kids also loved watching Kris play Final Fantasy on his iPad.
But when the sun was out, they preferred to be outside. Whether playing one-man seesaw.
Or running down sand dunes.
Or practicing for the ice capades.
Or playing with dangerous, rusty tools.
Or climbing ladders.
Or frolicking on the tundra.
Or heading back to the playground for more of the same.
In short, the tundra is fun. Who needs fishing?