Last month my eight year-old granddaughter, Haley, and I went out for an end of summer fling. We took bikes to the trail close to our downtown area. Haley rode back and forth across the bridge spanning the Reedy River, then back and forth again, and again. Although it was yet another 90+ degree day in Greenville, South Carolina, the breeze blew on her cheeks and she felt free and happy.
Later we stopped by the river, ignored the signs that say “CLIMBING OR SLIDING ON ROCKS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED” and followed the trail of children who were hopping from stone to stone. One baby doll girl in white ruffles went ker-splash, but not to worry. The sun and breeze soon dried her eyelet layers and she will have happy memories of her day.
As I watched Haley and the other children enjoying their last day before the start of school, I heard my mother saying, “Do it to your heart’s content.”* At that moment I determined that those words would be my motto for grandparenting. My daughters are excellent mothers, but they have so many responsibilities, and so little time. They provide plenty of activities to develop their children’s talents outside of school, and they drive multiple car pools to ensure that the kids develop social connections, but there isn’t much downtime.
When I think of Haley’s day at the river park (which also included lunch at a sidewalk cafe and an ice cream stop) I see some important observations for teaching and learning. The things we learned as playful children (in kindergarten, as Robert Fulghum wrote) are the things we need to see us through a lifetime.
- · Haley had time on that day. She repeated actions that soothed her. She rode her bike across the bridge till her soul told her she had enough.
- · She touched the elements of life. She hopped across stones in her bare feet, feeling the warm sun on her arms and the splash of cool water.
- · Her imagination was fired. As she lifted her head and viewed the city skyline, she thought of cities she wanted to build.
- · She made social connections. “Follow me,” said a brown-haired boy. “Can you do this?”
- · There was no sense of urgency. Haley moved at a slow pace and completed everything she desired to her satisfaction. She felt fulfilled.
N o wonder one teacher reported that she was going to provide more “sand and water” experiences for her high school students. We all need to make time to feel the wind, to splash in water, to be warmed by the sun, and we need to do it to our heart’s content.
What do you say?
*The expression “heart’s content” is found in Shakespeare’s writing. Jessica, daughter of Shylock, wishes Portia (her Ladyship) all heart’s content, and Portia returns the greeting as though it is common speech. Henry VI introduces his wife, Queen Margaret, to the court saying, “Her grace in Speech, Makes me from Wondring, fall to Weeping joyes. Such is the Fulnesse of my heart’s content.”
