Taking Walks “A Foreign Country” (Ages 3-8)
The preschool child’s world does not extend much farther than his or her house and yard. When children venture beyond those boundaries, their experiences are not much different from ours, the first time in a foreign country.
The child’s world is fixed, routine, and structured. Children see virtually the same things, in the same places, day in and day out: their rooms, clothes, toys, dining areas, views out the windows, bathrooms, and so on. Mealtimes, rest times, bedtimes, and regimens occur at roughly the same time every day. Not much is extraordinary; not many surprises occur.
Just the opposite becomes true, however, when we take a walk. The children are completely out of their element, then. Much of the experience is random, unexpected, and rarely routine. The walk provides a setting for educating, socializing, communicating, and exercising. The children get to experience some independence by making decisions such as:
1. What to take along (food, water, sweater)
2. Where to go (store, friend’s house, vacant lot, around the block)
3. What direction to take (left, right, straight)
4. How fast to travel (fast, slow, stop)
We see a person we don’t know, and I talk to the children about strangers. We stop and talk to a neighbor we do know, and they learn social skills. They come upon a new dog and learn caution. They see a car speed by, and learn the importance of looking before crossing.
A worker repairs utility lines, and the children learn how water and electricity get into our home. A bird prepares its nest, and they learn about nature and the importance of respecting all living things.
Their questions, concerns, and disappointments come about more readily when they are away from the house, out in an environment of free association. Additionally, their physical development and health get a boost from the demands of the walk.
Walking, a simple, but often forgotten activity, is an ideal way to ease your children from their world, into our world.
Rex Bowlby is the father of two boys. He is the author of the book, Why Would I Want the Toy, When I Can Have the Box? (101 Ways to Make the Most of Your Children, With the Least from Your Wallet*) *For parents with children ages 3-8. He lives in Los Angeles, California, USA.