I just got back from taking two lower school science classes into the woods of BCD to pull up bags of garlic mustard – an invasive plant that chokes out native species like wildflowers and ferns. Before we head out into the woods, I explain to students what an invasive plant is and how it affects other plant growth. Both last year when I did this and today, I was struck by the language and actions of the children (both girls and boys) as they collected the garlic mustard. The words that I heard are very similar to language that I hear when children are engaged in superhero and war play.
“Take that, garlic mustard!”
“I’ve got you now, garlic mustard!”
“You think you can hide, garlic mustard, but you can’t!”
“You’re dead, garlic mustard!”
“Baaaaaaad, baaaaaad garlic mustard!”
I saw several students throw armfuls of picked garlic mustard on the ground and then stamp them with their feet, jumping up and down and yelling. I heard two boys planning how, when they grow up, they are going to fly all over the world collecting and conquering garlic mustard. They decided that they would start in Mexico. 🙂
I think that these youngsters engage with the garlic mustard in this way because it allows them to feel strong and powerful in ways that they don’t always get to feel. This is the same reason why children pretend to be superheros or pretend to be fighting in wars; it allows them to try on feelings. For parents who don’t feel comfortable seeing their children engage in gun play or other fighting play, point them towards a batch of garlic mustard and let them go at it! Children get to feel powerful and the back yard will look nicer for it!
