(ROOT (FRAG (`` ``) (NP (NP (DT The) (ADJP (RB really) (JJ big)) (NN concern)) (PP (IN over) (NP (DT the) (JJ last) (NN decade)))) (, ,) ('' '') (PP (VBG according) (PP (IN to) (NP (NNP Dr.) (NNP David) (NNP Whitehead)))) (, ,) (`` ``) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ relative) (NN loss)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NNS opportunities)) (SBAR (IN for) (S (NP (NNS children)) (VP (TO to) (VP (VB engage) (PP (IN in) (NP (JJ child-led) (NN play))))))))))) (. .) ('' '')))
"The really big concern over the last decade," according to Dr. David Whitehead, "is the relative loss of opportunities for children to engage in child-led play."
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
advmod
really
really
ADV
RB
amod
Degree=Pos
big
big
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
concern
concern
NOUN
NN
case
over
over
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
last
last
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
decade
decade
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
case
ExtPos=ADP|VerbForm=Ger
accord
according
VERB
VBG
fixed
to
to
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
Dr.
Dr.
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
David
David
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Whitehead
Whitehead
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
relative
relative
ADJ
JJ
root
Number=Sing
loss
loss
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
opportunity
opportunities
NOUN
NNS
mark
for
for
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
engage
engage
VERB
VB
case
in
in
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
child-led
child-led
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
play
play
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (S (NP (DT That)) (VP (VBZ 's) (ADJP (JJ true))) (. .)))
That's true.
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
That
PRON
DT
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
's
AUX
VBZ
root
Degree=Pos
true
true
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (CD One)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ exhausting) (NNS aspects)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ modern) (NN parenting)))))) (VP (VBZ is) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NN everything)) (, ,) (S (ADVP (RB even)) (VP (VBG doing) (NP (NN nothing)))) (, ,) (VP (VBZ has) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ purposeful))))))))) (. .)))
One of the exhausting aspects of modern parenting is that everything, even doing nothing, has to be purposeful.
nsubj:outer
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
One
NUM
CD
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
exhausting
exhausting
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
aspect
aspects
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
modern
modern
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
parenting
parenting
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Tot
everything
everything
PRON
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
even
even
ADV
RB
acl
VerbForm=Ger
do
doing
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Sing|PronType=Neg
nothing
nothing
PRON
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
VERB
VBZ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
xcomp
Degree=Pos
purposeful
purposeful
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (ADVP (ADVP (RB Now)) (SBAR (IN that) (S (`` ``) (NP (NN parenting)) ('' '') (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VBN become) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN verb)) (, --) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN state)) (PP (IN of) (S (VP (VBG doing))))) (, ,) (CONJP (RB rather) (IN than)) (ADVP (RB simply)) (VP (VBG being))))))) (, --) (NP (NP (PRP it))) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB fed) (ADJP (JJ unnatural)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB leave) (NP (PRP$ your) (NNS children)) (PP (IN to) (NP (PRP$ their) (JJ own) (NNS devices)))))))) (. .)))
Now that "parenting" has become a verb--a state of doing, rather than simply being--it can fed unnatural to leave your children to their own devices.
advmod
now
Now
ADV
RB
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Number=Sing
parenting
parenting
NOUN
NN
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
AUX
VBZ
ccomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
become
become
VERB
VBN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
xcomp
Number=Sing
verb
verb
NOUN
NN
punct
--
--
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
appos
Number=Sing
state
state
NOUN
NN
mark
of
of
SCONJ
IN
acl
VerbForm=Ger
do
doing
VERB
VBG
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
rather
rather
ADV
RB
fixed
than
than
SCONJ
IN
advmod
simply
simply
ADV
RB
conj
VerbForm=Ger
be
being
AUX
VBG
punct
--
--
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
feed
fed
VERB
VB
xcomp
Degree=Pos
unnatural
unnatural
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
csubj
VerbForm=Inf
leave
leave
VERB
VB
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
your
your
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
case
to
to
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
own
own
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
device
devices
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (CC Yet)) (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VBZ creates) (NP (NP (NNS spaces)) (SBAR (WHPP (IN in) (WHNP (WDT which))) (S (NP (JJ good) (NNS things)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB happen))))))) (. .)))
Yet it creates spaces in which good things can happen.
cc
yet
Yet
CCONJ
CC
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
create
creates
VERB
VBZ
obj
Number=Plur
space
spaces
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
PronType=Rel
which
which
PRON
WDT
amod
Degree=Pos
good
good
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
thing
things
NOUN
NNS
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
acl:relcl
VerbForm=Inf
happen
happen
VERB
VB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN psychology) (NN lecturer)) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBG responding) (PP (IN to) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN survey)) (VP (VBG showing) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (CD 80) (NN percent)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NNS parents)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ small) (NNS children)))))) (VP (VBP feel) (PP (IN under) (NP (NN pressure) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB fill) (NP (PRP$ their) (NNS days)) (PP (IN with) (NP (`` ``) (JJ structured) ('' '') (NNS activities)))))))))))))))) (. .)))
The psychology lecturer is responding to a survey showing that 80 percent of parents of small children feel under pressure to fill their days with "structured" activities.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
psychology
psychology
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Number=Sing
lecturer
lecturer
NOUN
NN
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part
respond
responding
VERB
VBG
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
survey
survey
NOUN
NN
acl
VerbForm=Ger
show
showing
VERB
VBG
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nummod
NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card
80
80
NUM
CD
nsubj
Number=Sing
percent
percent
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
parent
parents
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
small
small
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
feel
feel
VERB
VBP
case
under
under
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
pressure
pressure
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
fill
fill
VERB
VB
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Plur
day
days
NOUN
NNS
case
with
with
ADP
IN
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
amod
Degree=Pos
structure
structured
ADJ
JJ
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
obl
Number=Plur
activity
activities
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT This)) (PRN (, ,) (SINV (VP (VBZ says)) (NP (NNP Dr.) (NNP Whitehead))) (, ,)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (DT a) (NN mistake))) (. .)))
This, says Dr. Whitehead, is a mistake.
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
This
PRON
DT
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
parataxis
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
say
says
VERB
VBZ
nsubj
Number=Sing
Dr.
Dr.
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Whitehead
Whitehead
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
root
Number=Sing
mistake
mistake
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBG Leaving) (NP (PRP$ your) (NNS children)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB play) (PP (PP (IN on) (NP (PRP$ their) (JJ own))) (CC or) (PP (IN with) (NP (PRP$ their) (NNS peers))))))))) (VP (VBZ enables) (NP (PRP them)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB develop) (`` ``) (NP (NN self-regulation) (NNS abilities)) ('' '') (, ,) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT which)) (S (PP (IN in) (NP (NN turn))) (VP (VBZ leads) (PP (IN to) (NP (JJR better) (JJ academic) (NN achievement)))))))))) (. .)))
Leaving your children to play on their own or with their peers enables them to develop "self-regulation abilities", which in turn leads to better academic achievement.
csubj
VerbForm=Ger
leave
Leaving
VERB
VBG
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
your
your
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
play
play
VERB
VB
case
on
on
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
obl
Degree=Pos
own
own
ADJ
JJ
cc
or
or
CCONJ
CC
case
with
with
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
conj
Number=Plur
peer
peers
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
enable
enables
VERB
VBZ
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
them
PRON
PRP
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
develop
develop
VERB
VB
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
compound
Number=Sing
self-regulation
self-regulation
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Plur
ability
abilities
NOUN
NNS
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
PronType=Rel
which
which
PRON
WDT
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
turn
turn
NOUN
NN
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
lead
leads
VERB
VBZ
case
to
to
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Cmp
good
better
ADJ
JJR
amod
Degree=Pos
academic
academic
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
achievement
achievement
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (CD One) (NN afternoon)) (NP (JJ last) (NN autumn))) (, ,) (S (VP (VBG sitting) (PP (IN on) (NP (DT a) (NN bench))) (S (VP (VBG doing) (NP (NP (DT no) (NN parenting)) (ADVP (IN at) (DT all))))))) (, ,) (NP (PRP I)) (ADVP (RB suddenly)) (VP (VBD felt) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VBG getting) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN hang)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP it))))))))) (. .)))
One afternoon last autumn, sitting on a bench doing no parenting at all, I suddenly felt I was getting the hang of it.
nummod
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
One
NUM
CD
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
afternoon
afternoon
NOUN
NN
amod
Degree=Pos
last
last
ADJ
JJ
nmod:tmod
Number=Sing
autumn
autumn
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
sit
sitting
VERB
VBG
case
on
on
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
bench
bench
NOUN
NN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
do
doing
VERB
VBG
det
no
no
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
parenting
parenting
NOUN
NN
case
at
at
ADP
IN
obl
all
all
DET
DT
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
advmod
suddenly
suddenly
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
feel
felt
VERB
VBD
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
ccomp
Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part
get
getting
VERB
VBG
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
hang
hang
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (DT That) (NN afternoon)) (, ,) (NP (NP (PRP$ my) (NN sister)) (CC and) (NP (PRP I))) (VP (VBD took) (NP (PRP$ our) (NNS children)) (PP (IN to) (NP (DT the) (NN park)))) (. .)))
That afternoon, my sister and I took our children to the park.
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
That
DET
DT
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
afternoon
afternoon
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
sister
sister
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
take
took
VERB
VBD
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
our
our
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
park
park
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP We)) (VP (VBD had) (NP (NP (NNS lots)) (SBAR (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB talk) (PP (IN about))))))))) (, ,) (RB so) (S (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VP (VBD sat) (PRT (RP down)) (PP (IN on) (NP (DT a) (NN bench)))) (CC and) (VP (VBD drove) (NP (DT the) (NNS children)) (ADVP (RB away))))) (. .)))
We had lots to talk about, so we sat down on a bench and drove the children away.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
We
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
have
had
VERB
VBD
obj
Number=Plur
lot
lots
NOUN
NNS
mark
to
to
PART
TO
acl
VerbForm=Inf
talk
talk
VERB
VB
obl
about
about
ADP
IN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
so
so
ADV
RB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
parataxis
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
sit
sat
VERB
VBD
compound:prt
down
down
ADP
RP
case
on
on
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
bench
bench
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
drive
drove
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
child
children
NOUN
NNS
compound:prt
away
away
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN After) (S (ADVP (RB briefly)) (VP (VBG complaining)))) (, ,) (NP (DT the) (NNS cousins)) (VP (VP (VBD wandered) (PRT (RP off))) (CC and) (VP (VBD started) (S (VP (VBG jumping) (PP (IN into) (NP (NNS puddles))))))) (. .)))
After briefly complaining, the cousins wandered off and started jumping into puddles.
mark
after
After
SCONJ
IN
advmod
briefly
briefly
ADV
RB
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
complain
complaining
VERB
VBG
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
cousin
cousins
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
wander
wandered
VERB
VBD
compound:prt
off
off
ADP
RP
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
start
started
VERB
VBD
xcomp
VerbForm=Ger
jump
jumping
VERB
VBG
case
into
into
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
puddle
puddles
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (S (NP (PRP They)) (VP (VBD jumped) (CC and) (VBD jumped))) (, ,) (CC and) (S (ADVP (RB then)) (NP (NP (CD one)) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP them)))) (VP (VBD kicked) (NP (DT some) (JJ muddy) (NN water)) (PP (IN at) (NP (DT the) (NNS others))))) (. .)))
They jumped and jumped, and then one of them kicked some muddy water at the others.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
jump
jumped
VERB
VBD
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
jump
jumped
VERB
VBD
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
advmod
PronType=Dem
then
then
ADV
RB
nsubj
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
them
PRON
PRP
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
kick
kicked
VERB
VBD
det
some
some
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
muddy
muddy
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
water
water
NOUN
NN
case
at
at
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Plur
other
others
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (PRP$ My) (NN sister)) (CC and) (NP (PRP I))) (, ,) (PP (JJ deep) (PP (IN in) (NP (NN conversation)))) (, ,) (VP (VBD did) (RB n't) (VP (VB notice) (NP (DT this)))) (. .)))
My sister and I, deep in conversation, didn't notice this.
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
My
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
sister
sister
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
deep
deep
ADJ
JJ
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
conversation
conversation
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
do
did
AUX
VBD
advmod
not
n't
PART
RB
root
VerbForm=Inf
notice
notice
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
PRON
DT
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (RB So) (NP (PRP$ my) (NN nephew)) (VP (VBD became) (ADJP (RBR more) (JJ adventurous))) (. .)))
So my nephew became more adventurous.
advmod
so
So
ADV
RB
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
nephew
nephew
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
become
became
VERB
VBD
advmod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADV
RBR
xcomp
Degree=Pos
adventurous
adventurous
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP He)) (VP (VP (VBD scooped) (PRT (RP up)) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN handful)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN mud))))) (CC and) (VP (VBD threw) (NP (PRP it)) (PP (IN on) (NP (NP (PRP$ my) (NN son) (POS 's)) (NN head))))) (. .)))
He scooped up a handful of mud and threw it on my son's head.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
he
He
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
scoop
scooped
VERB
VBD
compound:prt
up
up
ADP
RP
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
handful
handful
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
mud
mud
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
throw
threw
VERB
VBD
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
case
on
on
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
son
son
NOUN
NN
case
's
's
PART
POS
obl
Number=Sing
head
head
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP$ My) (NN son)) (VP (VP (VBD caught) (NP (PRP$ his) (NN breath)) (ADVP (RB happily))) (, ,) (VP (VBD wiped) (NP (DT the) (NN mud)) (PP (IN out) (PP (IN of) (NP (PRP$ his) (NNS eyes))))) (, ,) (CC and) (VP (VBD threw) (NP (CD one)) (ADVP (RB back)))) (. .)))
My son caught his breath happily, wiped the mud out of his eyes, and threw one back.
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
My
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
son
son
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
catch
caught
VERB
VBD
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
his
his
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Sing
breath
breath
NOUN
NN
advmod
happily
happily
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
wipe
wiped
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
mud
mud
NOUN
NN
case
out
out
ADP
IN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
his
his
PRON
PRP$
obl
Number=Plur
eye
eyes
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
throw
threw
VERB
VBD
obj
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
advmod
back
back
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (PRP$ My) (NN nephew)) (, ,) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBZ has) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN talent)) (PP (IN for) (S (VP (VBG naming) (NP (NNS things))))))))) (, ,)) (VP (VP (VBD puffed) (PRT (RP out)) (NP (PRP$ his) (JJ tiny) (NN chest))) (CC and) (VP (VBD roared) (: :) (`` ``) (S (VP (VB Let) (S (NP (PRP 's)) (VP (VB play) (NP (NNPS Muddikins)))))))) (. !) ('' '')))
My nephew, who has a talent for naming things, puffed out his tiny chest and roared: "Let's play Muddikins!"
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
My
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
nephew
nephew
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
PronType=Rel
who
who
PRON
WP
acl:relcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
talent
talent
NOUN
NN
mark
for
for
SCONJ
IN
acl
VerbForm=Ger
name
naming
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Plur
thing
things
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
puff
puffed
VERB
VBD
compound:prt
out
out
ADP
RP
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
his
his
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
tiny
tiny
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
chest
chest
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
roar
roared
VERB
VBD
punct
:
:
PUNCT
:
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
ccomp
Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin
let
Let
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
's
PRON
PRP
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
play
play
VERB
VB
obj
Number=Sing
Muddikins
Muddikins
PROPN
NNPS
punct
!
!
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NNS rules)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNPS Muddikins)))) (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (JJ simple))) (. .)))
The rules of Muddikins are simple.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
rule
rules
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
Muddikins
Muddikins
PROPN
NNPS
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
root
Degree=Pos
simple
simple
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP You)) (VP (VBP run) (PRT (RB around)) (S (VP (VBG throwing) (NP (NN mud)) (PP (IN at) (NP (DT each) (JJ other))))) (SBAR (IN until) (S (NP (NN everyone)) (VP (VBZ is) (ADJP (ADJP (ADVP (RB so) (RB thickly)) (VBN coated)) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (PRP you)) (VP (MD can) (ADVP (RB no) (RBR longer)) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ sure) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT which) (NN child)) (S (VP (VBZ is) (WHNP (WP$ whose))))))))))))))) (. .)))
You run around throwing mud at each other until everyone is so thickly coated that you can no longer be sure which child is whose.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
You
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
run
run
VERB
VBP
advmod
around
around
ADV
RB
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
throw
throwing
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Sing
mud
mud
NOUN
NN
case
at
at
ADP
IN
obl
ExtPos=PRON|PronType=Rcp
each
each
DET
DT
fixed
Degree=Pos
other
other
ADJ
JJ
mark
until
until
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Tot
everyone
everyone
PRON
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
advmod
so
so
ADV
RB
advmod
thickly
thickly
ADV
RB
advcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
coat
coated
VERB
VBN
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
advmod
no
no
ADV
RB
advmod
Degree=Cmp
long
longer
ADV
RBR
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
ccomp
Degree=Pos
sure
sure
ADJ
JJ
det
PronType=Int
which
which
DET
WDT
nsubj
Number=Sing
child
child
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
ccomp
Poss=Yes|PronType=Rel
whose
whose
PRON
WP$
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (NP (NN Nothing)) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN learnt) (PP (IN from) (NP (PRP it)))))) (: ;) (S (NP (NN nobody)) (VP (VBZ is) (VP (VBN improved)))) (. .)))
Nothing is learnt from it; nobody is improved.
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing|PronType=Neg
nothing
Nothing
PRON
NN
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
learn
learnt
VERB
VBN
case
from
from
ADP
IN
obl
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
punct
;
;
PUNCT
:
nsubj:pass
Number=Sing|PronType=Neg
nobody
nobody
PRON
NN
aux:pass
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
parataxis
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
improve
improved
VERB
VBN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (PRP It))) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (JJ pure) (NN fun)) (, ,) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN sort)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT that)) (S (VP (MD can) (ADVP (RB only)) (VP (VB happen) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (NP (NNS parents)) (VP (VBP drop) (NP (DT the) (NNS reins)))))))))))) (. .)))
It is pure fun, of the sort that can only happen when parents drop the reins.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
It
PRON
PRP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
amod
Degree=Pos
pure
pure
ADJ
JJ
root
Number=Sing
fun
fun
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
sort
sort
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
that
that
PRON
WDT
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
advmod
only
only
ADV
RB
acl:relcl
VerbForm=Inf
happen
happen
VERB
VB
advmod
PronType=Int
when
when
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Number=Plur
parent
parents
NOUN
NNS
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
drop
drop
VERB
VBP
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
rein
reins
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP They)) (VP (VBD did) (NP (PRP it))) (. .)))
They did it.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
do
did
VERB
VBD
obj
Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (SINV (`` ``) (S (VP (UH Whoa)) (, ,) (NP (DT that)) (VP (VBZ 's) (ADJP (RB so) (JJ cool)))) (, ,) ('' '') (VP (VBD said)) (NP (CD one)) (. .)))
"Whoa, that's so cool," said one.
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
discourse
whoa
Whoa
INTJ
UH
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
that
that
PRON
DT
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
's
AUX
VBZ
advmod
so
so
ADV
RB
ccomp
Degree=Pos
cool
cool
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
say
said
VERB
VBD
nsubj
NumForm=Word|NumType=Card
one
one
NUM
CD
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (`` ``) (NP (PRP I)) (VP (VBP wish) (SBAR (S (NP (PRP$ my) (NN mum)) (VP (VBD was) (PP (IN like) (NP (PRP you))))))) (. .) ('' '')))
"I wish my mum was like you."
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
I
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
wish
wish
VERB
VBP
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
nsubj
Number=Sing
mum
mum
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
was
AUX
VBD
case
like
like
ADP
IN
ccomp
Case=Acc|Person=2|PronType=Prs
you
you
PRON
PRP
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
"The really big concern over the last decade," according to Dr. David Whitehead, "is the relative loss of opportunities for children to engage in child-led play." That's true. One of the exhausting aspects of modern parenting is that everything, even doing nothing, has to be purposeful. Now that "parenting" has become a verb--a state of doing, rather than simply being--it can fed unnatural to leave your children to their own devices. Yet it creates spaces in which good things can happen. The psychology lecturer is responding to a survey showing that 80 percent of parents of small children feel under pressure to fill their days with "structured" activities. This, says Dr. Whitehead, is a mistake. Leaving your children to play on their own or with their peers enables them to develop "self-regulation abilities", which in turn leads to better academic achievement.  One afternoon last autumn, sitting on a bench doing no parenting at all, I suddenly felt I was getting the hang of it.  That afternoon, my sister and I took our children to the park. We had lots to talk about, so we sat down on a bench and drove the children away. After briefly complaining, the cousins wandered off and started jumping into puddles.  They jumped and jumped, and then one of them kicked some muddy water at the others. My sister and I, deep in conversation, didn't notice this. So my nephew became more adventurous. He scooped up a handful of mud and threw it on my son's head. My son caught his breath happily, wiped the mud out of his eyes, and threw one back. My nephew, who has a talent for naming things, puffed out his tiny chest and roared: "Let's play Muddikins!"  The rules of Muddikins are simple. You run around throwing mud at each other until everyone is so thickly coated that you can no longer be sure which child is whose. Nothing is learnt from it; nobody is improved. It is pure fun, of the sort that can only happen when parents drop the reins. They did it. "Whoa, that's so cool," said one. "I wish my mum was like you."