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: Many intentional communities include giving children a healthy place to play, learn, and grow in their mission statements; they are places where children are honored and not bored. Here are just a few examples.
o “Our approach to childcare is that it is parent-centered and integrated into the daily life of the community. On a practical level, this means working and taking care of your child at the same time, which may seem like a lot of extra work for parents. We feel that the kind of parents who thrive at Acorn as it is now relish the thought of working with their child and having kids contribute appropriately by age. Children can be found helping in the garden, gathering eggs, learning about tools, or doing various community chores alongside the adults of our group. We think this is a healthy approach to life for both adults and children.” Acorn Community, Mineral ,VA. http://www.ic.org/acorn/children.html
o The Farm in Summertown, TN has extensive experience with children, many of whom have contributed what they enjoyed at The Farm to the world at large. http://www.thefarm.org/lifestyle/index.html.
o The Farm also runs a program called Kids to the Country (KTC) where children who are “at risk” are given opportunities for healing and growth. http://www.plenty.org/KTC.htm
o The Farm also has an extensive midwifery program. “For over 25 years, The Farm Midwifery Center has provided a very special service for mothers, babies and their families. Women are treated with love and respect, empowering them to fulfill their desire for natural childbirth in a sane and safe home setting. The holistic approach provided by The Farm Midwives addresses not only physical but also emotional, spiritual, sexual and cultural aspects of each individual. We believe that childbearing is a significant event for every family and that every mother has the right to a safe and satisfying experience.” http://www.farmcatalog.com/birth.htm

Gregg Levoy, speaking of adult boredom says, “If you’re bored, it means you’re not in contact with deeper processes that are happening, and in my case that deeper process was that I was very excited about the prospect of beginning to study physics and its connections with psychology, and wanted to start right there on vacation. Which I did.” Levoy, Gregg: CALLINGS: Finding and Following an Authentic Life, Three Rivers Press/Random House, 1997