Editorial

Jumping for JOY at MECS Kindergarten

It is with great JOY that we celebrate 10 years of Kindergarten at MECS this year!

And jumping is something I see children of all ages seeking out and doing - often over and over again. Sometimes they jump off things high or low such as the jouncing boards, the benches or logs in the playground, a tower of blocks they have built, or just jumping from the ground!

I remember as a child jumping off swings and seeing how far I could jump. It wasn't something we got told not to do, it just seems instinctive in children to seek out thrills and challenges in their play. 

Children are aware of their risk taking and adjust their play accordingly. These adjustments are based on previous experiences. For children to remain competent they need time and space to practise, and play is one of the optimal ways to do this, as children tend to play within their limits. They usually play at the edge of their capacity, rarely beyond it. As kinder teachers and educators we trust in this process and children have thrived in our kinder programs.

Children naturally test their abilities to understand what they know and what they need to know-that’s the risky game. We learn so much through engaging in risky play, such as fear regulation, knowing when to jump, being aware of others, even what kind of surface to land on!

Sometimes children weigh up their options, to jump or not to jump? Some children spend a lot of time summoning the courage to jump. The thrill can be BIG. The reality is that the thrill doesn’t need to be THAT big but the energy to overcome the fear must be worth it. There is a ‘maybe’ factor- will it work? Maybe I can, maybe not, and in that maybe is where the excitement is. Not for any pedagogical or developmental reasons, but simply for the sheer JOY of it, the power of play is in the JOY and the ability to choose! The release of endorphins brings JOY- maybe this is the brain's way to say you need more of this, it’s how our brain learns to self-regulate emotions, or learn strategies through mistakes and successes, or overcome fears or for physical development. Jumping for JOY really is a thing!

At MECS Kinder we are intentional in offering all types of play, and plan for opportunities where children can test out their limits and feel safe or at least comfortable to have a go. This has been our practise that underpins our philosophy for 10 years. Our JOY has been in creating JOYful and inviting learning spaces for children for all these years. We look for JOY in everything, even difficult or risky things. It is the Lord that we rely on in all things, as Psalm 28:7 says, The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. 

What a privilege it has been to live this with young children and their families for 10 years. We plan for every experience to be inviting, exciting, interesting and thought provoking that encourages creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. 

JOY in jumping, in play, in trying and learning new things and in celebrating 10 years! 

Nothing without JOY!