The Merry-Go-Round
Boynton Beach (Florida) Mall has a wonderful carousel adjacent to a spacious indoor children’s play area. At any give time the area is bouncing with the energy of young children who are being accompanied by their shopped-out parents. On a recent morning I observed one toddler advance to explore the unoccupied carousel. She was going to be its first customer of the day. The entry gate was too big for her to open but the thoughtful carousel tender helped her inside. Now she was free to circle the carousel at close range to examine each colorful and exotic creature. She walked slowly just ahead of her mother and looked back often to verify that her mother was still with her. When she couldn’t decide which horse to ride, her mother gently enfolded her in her arms and they sat on a bench with the toddler clinging for dear life. The toddler held tight to her mother for assurance as the carousel began to move. I waved to her and smiled. She wanted to wave but could not bring herself to let go of her mother’s sweater. It was a very difficult decision indeed: hold fast to the safety of the known or let go to explore the new. In the end, mom’s comfort won out. Within a couple of revolutions and several searches of mom’s face she decided she needed a little more independence so she left her mother’s lap . She chose to sit next to her mother on the bench…still able to touch her and still able to see her face…for the duration of the ride. When the ride was over she burst into a big smile. And to complete this phase of the adventure she insisted upon closing the exit gate “all by herself.” A short time later the toddler found a safe observation place in the adjacent play area where she satisfied her curiosity by watching the carousel go round and round. Providing safety, security and loving support for a child’s natural curiosity is one of the most important gifts parents and educators can guarantee young learners. Advance to explore the world;
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