Climb On

Now that the 2 feet of surprise snow has melted, and our playground is clear again, we have been spending a lot more time outside. The end of the day is now outdoor playtime and the kids and staff are loving it.

Our new play structures are one year old now and they are fully broken in. The kids have figured out that you go DOWN the slide and UP the stairs. You slide down FEET FIRST and you keep the ROCKS ON THE GROUND. The preschool class has a larger, higher structure and they decided as a class that there can be NO TOYS ON THE PLAY STRUCTURE. It's always amazing to me how the kids remember the safety rules about 90% of the time. Last week, the Sunday School had taken trucks on the climber and when the preschoolers arrived on Monday, they all gasped in horror at the thought of it.

On the toddler side, we have a smaller play structure that is lower to the ground, but still gives the kids an element of appropriate risk. As a former rock climbing enthusiast, my favorite feature on this equipment is the climbing ladder.

It's not a straight ladder, but three metal loops attached asymmetrically to a metal pole. The kids have to navigate the steps, coordinating their hand placement and foot holds, and keeping their eyes on the prize - the platform.

When coaching the kids on the climber, it's tempting to just lift them up there, or hold on to their waist to help them balance. But what does that do? It teaches them to lean back and let go their hands - not a safe climbing stance. Instead, we try to coach them up - tapping on the place where their foot or hand would go and pushing them forward if they try to lean on us.

It usually takes two or three tries but eventually they develop their pattern - right foot here, left hand there, pull up, left foot there, right hand around the middle, pull up; reach for the platform with the left foot, grab the bars, pull forward and then OH MY GOODNESS I MADE IT!!!

They all develop their own system, but I swear the hum of the universe is going full force when they finally figure it out and they make it on their own with no help. They grin, laugh, clap their hands, wiggle around and do a victory dance when they make it on their own. It's incredible.

And the adults dance inside too - we LET THEM DO IT WITHOUT OUR HELP. It's so easy to just lift them up - or just put on their coat for them, feed them their potatoes, put on their shoes, do their homework, pay their bills - you get the idea. But the satisfaction a kid gets from doing it themselves and that winning "proud face" when they've accomplished something is the real thing we should take credit for.

And yes, climbing is a metaphor for all kinds of things. What's your climber?

With independent love,

Miss Tara and Miss Leah