An interview with Evelin Pang
Evelin is the mother of a two year old girl, Loviise and is a well known, multi talented stage and screen actor here in Estonia. She has agreed to share her experience as a mother in an interview about the role of play in a child´s formative years. Her enthusiasm and support for our store has been greatly appreciated !
What types of games did you enjoy most as a child ?
I loved all types of games and still do. I played a lot of outdoor games with the other kids in the neighbourhood. When it was time to go indoors my brother and I played all kinds of make-believe games, hide and seek, tag, role playing, card games and board games.. I guess that childhood should ideally be one big game. To this day I love playing board games
with my friends.My profession as an actress allows for a lot of games´, its part of the job. Luckily a lot of the fun I had playing as a child has continued to be an important part of my adult life.
What kind of a child is Loviise ?
She´s a real busy-body, in a good way that is. She always has something brewing ! Loviise is actually a little calmer and more balanced than I am, so I have many things to learn from her.
What types of gifts does Loviise most enjoy receiving ? What types of gifts do you like to give to your friends kids ?
Loviise is happy with two tablespoons that she can whack together or use to feed her teddybear. We gave her a rag doll for her first birthday, I wish I had made it myself but a lack of time and skill kept me from doing so. When I choose a present for someone elses kid then I always ask myself, " Would I like this myself ? " Is it another useless widgit or is it something with substance ? And please, less plastic and more wood and natural materials !
What are your family´s values when it comes to raising your child ?
My husband Priit and I are of the opinion that parents should not over do it ! There is no need to pressure your child into developing at a faster rate than he or she is comfortable with. A kid has to have a chance to be a kid after all. I don´t think a child is worse off or under developed if he or she cannot read by the age of three or cannot tell the time as a two year old. Sure, if Loviise shows an interest in letters after I have introduced the alphabet to her then by all means I´ll be there for her but I don´t want to force her to do anything.
Right now she is into numbers, when we are out for a walk we read the numbers on houses together. I get a little irritated when I hear mothers comparing their kids, who can do what at what age. Naturally a lot of time should be spent together doing things, growing up together, playing together.
How often do you buy toys for Loviise and what are the criteria any purchase should fulfill ?
To answer the first question; Rarely. I am definitely of the opinion that less is definitely more when it comes to toys.Sometimes I´ll gather up a few things and quietly put them away for a while.Loviise gets a chance to rediscover these toys when they magically re-appear. As it is we still have too many toys around our place, what else do people bring as birthday or Christmas presents ?
A good toy is one that has many possibilities.
Have you purchased any toys for Loviise when travelling abroad that are not available in Estonia ?
No I have´nt. I have visited stores that specialize in creative/developmental toys and am glad that such a store now exists in Tallinn.
How would you sum up Taibula´s motto, " Lets Play for Real "
Lets play with our kids, lets be there for them and lets never lose our own sense of being a kid. |
