I am always amazed at the power spending time with their peers has on my kids' motivations to learn new skills. This has been most strongly evidenced in the swimming pool.
Last summer (our first with our own pool), the kids were decent swimmers. Greyson and Charles with inflatable "bubbles", Veronica with bubble, pool noodle, and often an adult's assistance. One day, we had one of Charles's friends over to swim, and he brought his two sisters, ages 6 and 5 (roughly). Well, the girls swam like fishes - diving, swimming underwater, etc. After that, Greyson suddenly no longer needed his bubble, and by the next time the girls came over, Grey was swimming proficiently bubble-free. Enough so, at least, to maintain his manly dignity!
This year - Greyson's diving, swimming underwater, and generally confident and comfortable in the pool. Charles and Veronica still in bubbles, Veronica with additional pool noodle. Then one day a bunch of Charles's preschool friends come over to swim. Varying levels of ability, but most of them doing well splashing around and swimming. Next time we go swimming? Suddenly Charles has discarded his bubble and is ready to swim bubble-free ... and Veronica no longer needs her noodle.
Something to remember for the future - if you really want the kids to learn a social skill, invite the other kids over to do it, too!
No comments:
Post a Comment