Waiting outside a swimming pool in the hot sun is by no means an easy task! But the other day, I had the pleasent experience of witnessing
an inspiring incident. There was a girl..about 5 -6 year old who had come for the camp. I assume that it was her first time.
She refused to get in. What was amazing is that unlike other children she was very calm. No crying, no wailing. But still, no amount of pursuading by the instructor or the mum, worked. Mother was equally calm and composed. After about 20 -25 minutes the mum went and spoke something to he instructor and she left.
The next day the same process.Although they stood around for almost the whole one hour, the child refused to go in. Not even to sit and kick her legs in the water. All still calm. I was truly inspired by this mum. So I went up and spoke to her.
She replied that this was a part of a 'deal' that she had made with her daughter. According to the deal, she..ie the child would try her 'bestest' to get in the pool..saying "If I Can, I will. If i can't don't push me!!"
So the mum was hoping that if she keeps her part of the bargain the child would too.
My thoughts/learnings on this:
1. Trusting your child is so important. In fact trust building as an essential life skill begins here.
2. Even before trusting the child, trusting your own self and the belief that you are working from.
3. When I discussed this with a family member she said " But, how far can I, allow a child to take his/her time? Will this not lead to my child becoming complacent?"
I just can't wait to see how this will end. Will keep you posted!!
How much time? is the biggest questions.
ReplyDeleteWe start with intentions and soon fall in "hurry mode" :(
Ah! working on my own "how much, how soon, how many times".......
Thanks for sharing
Just pulling "do you need to compare - unlike other kids?"
I mean what makes us observe kids in comparison to other?
Sharing a similar incident. My son Pranav had enrolled for swimming lessons two years ago. The instructor pushed him inot the pool and he did not want to go the next day. After speaking to the instructor, he was allowed to learn at his own pace, started with getting down into the pool and that summer he did bubbling and floating by observing, he did not want the instructor to hold or push him. The next summer he did not want to go the pool. This summer we were on a holiday in a resort where he made friends, one morning all the kids were in the pool and having loads of fun, they kept calling him and he wanted to go. Now he decided to learn swimming, to join his friends. I'm happy that it is his own decision.
ReplyDelete