Nancy Kahn Scott has been the owner/operator of the My Gym Children’s Fitness Center in Palm Desert, California since 1996. As a hands-on owner, she teaches classes six days a week for children from six weeks to eight years of age. Here, she talks about what children can learn from personal exploration.
Every parent, and every adult who works with children, should encourage them to explore all they can. It seems like such a no-brainer to me. Why would you not want your child to explore? The reason for exploration is manifold: You want them to explore because it opens up their minds and allows them to learn about the world, themselves and others.
One of the direct benefits with exploration as far as young children are concerned is that through exploration, they are able to discover the workings of cause and effect. I roll a ball; it knocks down a bowling pin; I am excited about that. It’s a simple lesson but one that is important to understand.
Exploration Encourages Growth
When you are encouraging children to explore, it sparks their imagination and it facilitates growth, both physical and emotional growth. Children love to see and figure out how something works and exploration is a way for them to do precisely that. It makes understanding the world around them that little bit easier.
At My Gym, we encourage exploration from the get-go. Every week when a child attends a My Gym class, the gym will be set up in a completely different configuration. Through those weekly changing set-ups, we encourage a child’s natural desire to explore. It’s fresh and exciting every week, for all ages.
Creating a Fresh Environment
We move equipment and furniture around, creating places where they will explore that’s fresh and new every time they come. For instance, we might work to set up an area in a corner with a flag, a plank and a set of stairs. It all works together and encourages the child even in that little space to explore. We have pockets of exploration throughout the entire gym that are age-appropriate exploration areas.
When children come to us and see a different set-up, it’s more of an exciting thing to them, not one that causes insecurity or distress. The gym and the building are still the same, the teachers are still the same. They don’t feel insecure; they are just very excited to see what exciting new areas to play in we have developed for them each week.
Our very youngest children have parents in attendance with them, so they have a safe feeling with an adult known to them there at all times. So all the children, from the very littlest ones up to the very oldest, can make the most of their environment and learn how to make sense of their own independent investigations, and see how they affect the world around them.
Children who are active and enjoy physical activity are healthier as adults, that’s what studies have shown.If we can make physical activity fun for children, we will be encouraging them in a lifetime of healthy exercise, activity and physical development. And encouraging them to explore is all part of that.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
