Super Summer Experiences

Every child needs experiences and they should be diverse.  It is these experiences that form the hidden backdrop for understanding the world, experiencing the world and building background knowledge to support reading comprehension. It turns out that reading comprehension doesn't really start in Kindergarten they ask you about the facts of the story - who, where, when, why, how, what.

One familiar early childhood concept is transportation.  You've seen the board book of trucks, cars, boats, trains, planes, bicycles...you've seen notice boards with all of the transportation pictures.  You've probably even spent time yourself asking "what's this?" as you point to a car, trains, or a bus.  The transportation topic covers how people move - land, air, water.  We count the wheels and wings just to ensure that our children understand all of the many components that make up transportation.

When the opportunity to visit Florida  presented itself, flying was the only option available to us.  Having already done the train to Atlanta, we knew we weren't going that route again.  Consequently, our first plane ride together.

The good news was that the flying was weeks after the surgery so all those weeks of restricted physical activity were 'rewarded' with a flight to another state.  The excitement of having luggage especially for her with matching pieces; the fun of looking at a map to see where we were going; and the early understanding that we were flying and mommy was scared made the experience all the more delightful.

Even if she struggled to find the words to describe the experience, the feelings were there and they showed all over her face. Once in the air, she enjoyed the flight - the clouds, the seats, watching a DVD.  I talked about the experience by describing my feelings, my thoughts, and what was occurring.  It was only years later, after speech had improved, that she was able to refer to the experience.  "Remember, mommy, like on the plane"  That's always a reminder that even when I don't have the verbal evidence that the experiences are meaningful, being in the experience in and of itself is meaningful.  As much as I want to make speech happen, I don't have control over that.  What I do have control over is creating experiences that serve as a foundation for stimulating and using speech - whenever it comes in.

That summer, she enjoyed the flying experience.  Met and played with new cousins.  Began broadening her social skills as she engaged with new aunts, uncles, and cousins.  To cap off the super summer experience, we were late for the flight going back.  Actually, we weren't late.  We were there in the airport on time but so busy chilling and getting the morning meal, we missed the first, second, and third boarding calls.  The next thing I heard was final boarding call for flight XYZ.  That was us!!!    Since this was shortly after the introduction of the 'remove your shoes' security check-in, there we were, taking off shoes, getting stuff into bins, and trying to run full speed to the gate.  It was exhausting!  It was (mildly) embarrassing!  It was hilarious!  But most of all, it was a shared experience that she could draw from in the future.  And, when she saw similar scenes in movies, she could point out that she had been through the same thing.

Super summers, whether they involve flying, trips to the beach, museum, or simple walks in the park are an opportunity to create experiences that children draw from.  They need these experiences to delight themselves in the fullness of the universe....they need these experiences to stimulate their thinking and their speech...they need these experiences because they represent a gift from you to them.....