Letting the children play

I read a phrase recently which stuck with me - when you look at a child playing with a toy, which one is doing most of the thinking? This was particularly at the forefront of my mind as I sat down with a cup of peppermint tea to plan some of my classes when I was taken by the playing that was going on in front of me. Planning forgotten, instead a blog post was being written before my eyes:

No formal introduction, no inconsequential small talk,
just doing what comes naturally - playing together. 

Upstairs at The Hub I can hear the occasional notes of music,  a countdown timer and words of determination and encouragement from our fitness director as 5 ladies take part in a Bulgarian bag and kettle bell workout. Two of the ladies have brought their children and while C (a 7 year old girl) is content for a while taking a book upstairs and watching the workout, P (a 4 year old boy) and M (a 2 year old girl) would much rather play downstairs.

They explore Tiny Town, try out a few superhero capes and play with the vehicles in the book corner. Then P remembers the train track that was out last week and requests it. On locating it, P insists on ceremoniously carrying it with his ‘strong muscles like his Mum’ to the biggest open space to set up. Without discussion, P and M begin to build. They each work on different ends of the track, an unspoken agreement that they each have ownership over their end of track design.

“I’m making this bit long and straight” P explained while M stated “mine goes round”. Half finished, P goes to find the 4 carriages (we need to get a few more!) and builds his train while M conscientiously joins the track together, resiliently turning the pieces this way and that to make them fit together. They independently play, occasionally conversing but mostly playing contentedly alongside each other. My only almost- intervention is when M comes over to me and says that she hasn’t got a train and that P isn’t sharing. However, as we go up to P he says “does she want a train? She can have one” and kindly takes one of the carriages off his train and hands it to M whose smile shows the acceptance and delight in having her own train – I wasn’t needed at all.

Their imaginative play includes sound effects, trains stopping at stations taking on board passengers and coming to an understanding when their trains meet head on down the track. When C comes down to join them, there is unspoken acceptance that she will join in the play too.

The discovery of the blocks in the play area adds another dimension as bridges are erected and tunnels are assembled for the trains to drive through. M turns to me as I walk past and simply says, “he’s my friend,” before returning to her play.

Seemingly in no time, though actually 45 minutes later, their Mothers (and Grandmother) return from their fitness class and these friends return to their families bringing them over for 'show and tell' what they have created, 

Were the children just playing? Amusing themselves while their Mum’s had an opportunity to take some time for themselves to get fit? In part, but what else was going on as they ‘played’ with the track?

M patiently and resiliently
turned the piece to make
it fit. 

·         They were developing their social skills with collaboration, team work, sharing and negotiation.·         Early mathematical skills were being developed through ordering, logic and problem solving through building the track and a determination to use every piece.

·         Imagination and role play were in full force as they drove the trains along the track,

·         Invention and design when they added in the bricks and investigated different elements of science and technology with the sizes of their towers and bridges while ensuring they stayed standing.

·         Fine motor skills were exercised as they manipulated the track, grasped the trains with different hands and built the bricks upon each other as well as gross motor skills when they were crawling along the floor and reaching for different elements.

Absolutely the children were playing but don’t be fooled into thinking that is all they were doing. Vital learning goes on as children investigate through their play. And who was doing most of the thinking? Definitely the children - though I do wonder about what we would hear if we could tap into the thoughts of the track as it was being twisted and turned and hammered to fit!!
And the bonus is...? All this was going on while their Mum’s completed a 45 minute bags and bells workout focusing on their glutes and core strength - win-win all round!!

Children are welcome to accompany their parents (or Grandparents) to fitness classes between 8am-5pm each week day at The Honeycomb Hub. They can either stay upstairs in the Studio (we have bouncers for little ones) watching quietly from the sidelines or they may play downstairs.  We also host a ‘Funky Fit’ session every Tuesday at 4pm where parents and children can exercise together! 

For pregnant ladies, we have a specialised fitness class for you at 9am on a Monday and if you are newly post-natal and looking to get back into fitness, we are hosting a 6 week Mamas and Babas and Post-natal fitness course starting next week. Whatever stage of fitness you are at, we have a class for you and you are always welcome at The Honeycomb Hub. We would love to see you all soon.