Jumpin' Jack Splash Makes Waves

Today was the first day of 'school' for my daughter. I call it 'school' but it's really a Parks and Rec program called Jumping Jack Splash for parents and toddlers. I want to prepare her by starting off nice and easy because when junior kindergarten starts next year, she'll think it's all gym time and swim time!

You see, she's really shy, like really really shy. So shy that it's seems like selective mutism because when others focus on her, it seems she gets anxious and shuts down. You won't hear a peep out of her or see any expression on her face unless she is:

1. Really familiar with you
2. Not the centre of attention
3. Not being talked about
4. Not being asked a lot of questions or sometimes any question
5. Not feeling pressured

This is where Jumping Jack Splash saves the day! The program consists of playtime in the gym with unstructured play on slides, a balance beam, a tunnel, shooting hoops, and ball play. Then semi-structured circle time with interactive children's songs. The second half of the class is free-play in the swimming pool, her favourite part! She can't stop talking about it! With having failed several attempts to get her to swim, there she was happily and willingly on a floaty board doing the front and back stroke with daddy's help.

This class was perfect for her because there was no pressure to participate therefore she did. The instructor went around to simply encourage the children to play and to get to know them. I liked how it was important for the children to be comfortable in their own skin rather than be told how to use the equipment properly or be forced to follow instructions. It is a perfect ice breaker to experience before the pressures of a structured setting...a.k.a. school.

There were other parents who were busy focusing on their children so she played, laughed, participated well, and was even the leader in Follow the Leader with minimal warm-up or coaxing. This helped her peel at least a half layer of her concrete shell, which is a lot to say about her enthusiasm for this class. If you're a parent or teacher with a child who experiences similar characteristics, or seems shy to extremely shy, I would recommend a program similar to this as it may help build confidence and perhaps alleviate anxiousness towards groups or unfamiliar settings.

With experience working in the speech and language world, I've learned when working with children who are reluctant to communicate, it only makes it worse when you try to elicit their speech. I believe, and my daughter has proved to me, that it is not the speech and language that is the problem but rather the emotional and behavioural aspect of perhaps feeling pressured or embarrassed to speak or to perform in front of people that enables this anxiety in children. I'm going to adopt the principle of this Jumping Jack Splash so that she can feel comfortable around others and continue to peel off the layers of her shell and be her true funny happy active self for the world to know.

All night she told stories about her fun-filled day to her baby brother, or by re-enacting the gymboree with use of kitchen towels and chairs (her imagination was running wild!). Even hubby who tagged team with me throughout the class was impressed and eager to go back. It was a definite time for bonding as a family which I'm cherishing so much. How very priceless as she says, "I wanna go to koowa (school)!", words I never thought I would hear her say!