“Look at Me! I’m Doing It!”

“Look at me! I’m doing it! “ Not all of our learning happens in the classroom! We have a beautiful playground/park we use everyday. One school rule that disappoints our youngest students every year is “no baby swings.” They look at the “big” swings with suspicion. Now, at the beginning of October, many eyes are bright, shining, and full of pride. They can “pump!”
I encourage all parents and staff to follow the same guidelines. Help children to reach up as high as they can on the swing, and “1, 2, 3, JUMP!” Once seated, we start them with a push FROM THE FRONT OF THE SWING!
Standing in front, the adult encourages the child to “touch my hands with your feet.” As they stretch their feet forward, the adult pushes on their shoes. We then encourage them to “tuck them back,” as we show them how to bend their knees. Yesterday, two more “threes” “got it!” Legs pumping, hair flying, they were sailing on their own power!
Are there any sweeter words than, “Mommy! Yook at me! Yook at what I can do!”