The Adult Role in Support of Precious Childhoods
Our young children need time to explore, experience, discover and make sense of the world around them. It is sometimes easy to forget that they have only been on the planet for maybe two, five ,ten years.... they need to be their own explorers and investigators.
Children need to have the ‘protective arms’ of an understanding adult around them. This is not an adult who uses their ‘arms’ to hold the child back but an adult who uses these ‘arms’ to gently guide and support as appropriate, who stands up for children's rights, who shows trust in their judgement and protecting their time and allowing them to build important childhood memories.
This is an adult who sees even the youngest child as a competent and capable little being who needs to be sensitively nurtured and allowed to grow into the competent, happy adults we want all children to grow into.
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| Jumping and dancing in the water - fun science investigation into the properties of water and sand |
Nikki we LOVE the way you think. Too often adults don't give children enough credit for their competence and capabilities, even at a young age, and tend to dive in to over protect them instead of simply being there to catch them when they fall.
ReplyDeleteSherry and I look forward to following your blogging journey!
Donna :) :)
Welcome to Blogland! Water and sand. Found in large quantities outdoors; the best place to let children be children, take calculated risks and create their own boundaries.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sherry, Donna and Charley - I am passionate about outdoor and nature play for young children and feel we all need to fight for children to have these rights.
ReplyDeleteHi Nikki
ReplyDeleteCongratulations - what a lovely post to begin your blog. May this be the start of many more to come.
Good luck and best wishes
Juliet
Hi Nikki, Fabulous start to a blog, you already have people around the world thinking "oh I like her she's like me! Shame you can't pop in for tea! Lovely pictures, I look forward to more.... Jo P.
ReplyDeleteHi Nicki. We heard you flew off on a new adventure in Oz. What a small world to find you here. We miss you loads and wish you the best of luck in your new life :))))
ReplyDeleteNatasha
Thanks Juliet - there will be more to come - so many photographs and thoughts to share!
ReplyDeleteJo - thanks - where are you based - maybe we could still pop in for a cup of tea!
Natasha - you will just have to come and see me when you come to Oz and of course I will be back in Scotland regularly as I still have 3 of my children there!
Subscribed. We've already communicated on the Playgrounds WA Facebook Page and I'm looking forward to reading your blog posts. And thanks so much for Liking my Child's Play Music Facebook Page.
ReplyDeleteAlec
Niki, what a lovely post, best of luck in Oz & I am so glad that I go to 'meet' you at the conference & spend an afternoon at Auchlone before you moved down under.
ReplyDelete