Walking & Talking

We've all seen/heard them. Many of us know one personally.  Some of us even have given birth to one of our own.  They are the high energy, strong willed, emotionally intense children that challenge everyone and everything. 

When these children are fully engaged in something they love to do it is magical to watch.  It is a little scary too because if they are interrupted or become frustrated or bored with the activity the magic may turn to mayhem in a matter of seconds.  They are impatient and easily over stimulated.

In my current little group of preschoolers I have three - yes three of these 'difficult', 'spirited', whatever you want to call them, children.  Each one of these children is challenging but put all three of them together for an extended period of time and things can become volatile very quickly.

Even when, or especially when they all have the same goal they struggle to cooperate - too impulsive or competitive to work together they tend to destroy any progress that another has made.  Their own intense reactions - happy, sad or mad - are further fuelled by the reactions of the others.  It is not that they purposely want to disrupt activities but the reaction they get from the others is exhilarating.

They all enjoy active, gross motor play but it never seems to tire them out.  In fact, like little crank-up flash lights, the more energy an activity requires the more power they seem to build up.  They seem to have better self control during quiet activities but tension builds silently and will eventually explode.

Five hungry children enjoying a peaceful lunch.  A single noodle slips off a spoon and plops back onto the plate.  Splat!  That was a funny noise - someone giggles.  Two children try to recreate that sound by scooping and dumping spoonfuls of noodles.  Excitement and volume increase exponentially.  Someone's milk gets knocked over and they begin to cry.  At this point lunch is over.  No amount of talking, redirecting or reprimanding will return this situation back to a peaceful lunch.

Forget any type of circle time activities.  These children love to talk.  All of them have amazing vocabularies but they don't seem to hear/understand anything anyone else says.  It is far easier to get children to focus when they are outside but even in a natural outdoor environment these children will struggle with a group circle time activity.  There is always someone on the other side of the circle who is smiling, makes a silly face and waits for the reaction.  Of course they get it - positive or negative doesn't matter - it was a reaction.

This is why we walk.

It is no secret that I love to go hiking.  Walking alone through a forest is for me the most precious time.  It is an introspective period of imagining, reflecting, dreaming, discovering.  I often take children hiking but for each child/group of children the purpose of the hike is different.  For some it is all about the destination.  Others need the exercise or the change of scenery.

This current group of children is different. Their endless energy is never depleted - none of them ever complain that they are tired of walking.  They are not concerned about our destination or the length of time it may take us to get there.  For this group when we walk - we talk - and more importantly, we listen. 

Maybe it is the motion or the rhythm of our steps or the constant drone of the vehicles on the street but as we walk these children and I have some of the most amazing conversations.  Conversations we have never been able to have while sitting in a circle.

We talk about the things we see.  We tell stories about places we have gone and things we have done.  We talk about our likes and dislikes.  We sing songs - together instead of competitively.  We take turns talking and sharing.  There are few interruptions and no pushing/grabbing/hitting because we are busy walking.  Sometimes we walk for hours - they have a lot to say but it is hard for them to talk when there are too many distractions.  So we walk...and talk.