Over the weekend, we took our three year old grandson to a new giant sandbox in town, part of a recent park and playground upgrade. We brought two trucks with us and noticed a number of community pails and shovels scattered around. Little feet were quickly bared and enthusiastic play commenced!
As I looked around at a dozen or so boys and girls playing and only three or four parents actively watching their child (others were head down, texting or otherwise engaged with their cell phone), one of my first thoughts was, “I wonder who referees?” Oh, the cynicism. I should know better!
We grown-ups can learn so much by watching kids in a sandbox.
The little ones figured out how to share; “Hey, I’ll use this one, you can use that one.”
The children delighted in each other’s accomplishments; “Wow, that’s a big mountain!”
They supported each other’s goals; “Can I put sand in your dump truck, too? We’ll make the mountain super big!”
They knew how to comfort and help one another. When one child was upset because the pail he used earlier was gone, another child stopped playing, looked around the sandbox, found an unused pail and gave it to the boy who was crying; “Here is another one you can use.”
As time went by, kids paired up, separated, made new friends, went off on their own and later came back together. No one took offense to the comings and goings of their playmates, they simply adjusted.
A couple of the shovels were missing their handle. That didn’t seem to bother the kids at all. A shovel without a handle can still scoop and dump sand, after all. Everything doesn’t have to be new or perfect.
No one stomped on anyone else’s creation…until the creator did. Then, it was free for all fun and laughter!
There was a lot of cultural diversity in the little group and it seemed to make no difference to anyone. Children with pale skin, rosy skin, brown skin, and black skin were all the same in one respect; they were children being fully present to fun.
Even while busy with play, the children were keenly observant of what was happening around them. (Grown-ups need to keep that in mind!)
They saw a girl with a physical disability slowly walk with her Dad around the sandbox to a park bench. An older sister walking behind them was carrying the girl’s walker. Some of the kids watched out of curiosity and interest, then went back to play. Her differences were interesting but not a big deal.
A Mom moved away from the group to a park bench off to the side and began nursing a little baby (shielding the activity with a blanket). One boy looked over for a moment and said, “Aww…look at the little baby.” Then he went back to playing.
A little boy started crying as we gathered the trucks to take them home with us. His Mom came over and gently explained that you can’t keep what isn’t yours. An important life lesson was introduced.
As children left, all the community toys were left in the sandbox. Some of the kids waved goodbye. These boys and girls may never see each other again, but for about 90 minutes they were friendly playmates. They enhanced each other’s visit to the sandbox and left each other with a happy memory.
Imagine if we all lived life as if it was a big sandbox.
