Just Fine!
That is how things go on a playground as the play is given room to shift, flow, and take hold naturally. And I didn't immediately notice that people had moved into this new den until one of the new resident's called out to me, "Lesley, I don't want to be a guard of the house."
The Shed Climb
This opportunity, without calling the children over or making it a Big Moment, attracted others. In short order, other children climbed up. But it's important to note that only a handful of children tried it and even fewer climbed to the roof.
Play is Passed From One to Another
Play arcs and play destination messages are passed from older children to younger. Recently, we held a parent training our parent educator called, When Nothing is Everything - the Value of Free Time, and during the discussion period I asked the parents how many of them played in free-ranging groups of mixed ages where the oldest child was 8, 10, or older? Almost all of them raised their hands. When I talk about how play is passed from one child to another, I am talking about older children, 7 through 10 teaching younger children what to play.
What Your Teen Babysitter Wants to Know
A post about a recent "coffee&chat" session. Recently we held a preteen and teen babysitting training, "the cooperative way." We learned so much about what these young adults need from parents to create a successful and comforting environment for young children.
Treasure Found
So now all we had to do was figure out what it was. We studied it there, keeping an eye out for other clues in the area. Were there more bones, perhaps fur or feathers? One of the children voiced the question the discoverer wouldn't give voice to, "How did it die?"