Getting a Move On
Babies learning to walk don’t compare themselves to others or say, “I’m taking way more steps than anyone else my age.” Their first steps, tentatively letting go of solid surfaces, take great courage. But with a little practice, they waddle along like small boats on a rocky sea with single-minded focus: the determination to move forward. Soon their walking turns into running. Anyone who has ever seen the pure exhilaration of a toddler running away from a parent can’t help but smile before rescuing them. The question is, “Can that delight and confidence in movement last?”
Movement specialist Rosangela Snavely thinks so, and she encourages children of all ages to try using their bodies in new ways. Twice a week she offers a cornucopia of non-competitive movement activities in preschool, kindergarten, and on the playground, and she is keenly aware of children’s tendency to compare their physical abilities with others’ even at an early age.
Adults often find it delightful when children around the age of three and four make bold statements like, “I’m the fastest!” or “I’m the strongest!” since it shows their budding feelings of capability. However, self-labeling often results in over-noticing which classmate jumps farther or climbs better, and these comparisons can be limiting.
Children’s initial joy in movement can be replaced by the conviction that they have to be the fastest runner or the best at kicking a ball. Between the ages of seven and ten, children tend to become even more aware of their physical abilities relative to peers’, and some may start judging themselves as “not good at sports.”
Rosangela’s answer is to encourage children at every age to concentrate on effort rather than prowess. When one child makes a critical comment about another’s abilities— “You’re not jumping high”—Rosangela asks them to notice and applaud the efforts their peers are making. She coaches them to make encouraging comments when children are trying a new activity, like jumping rope. When children are afraid to try, she has the inexperienced child be one of the rope turners until they gain more confidence.
Rosangela isn’t opposed to competition. Both her daughters play on soccer teams, and her husband, James, is their coach. However, when their teams lose, Rosangela and James urge the girls to appreciate the other team’s abilities and to encourage their teammates to focus on the fun of playing the game.
Adults need to be aware that children today live in a more sedentary age. Developing both the courage to try new physical pursuits and the ability to encourage others to try too have life-long importance. Children don’t have to be good at sports to learn to practice sportsmanship. We can teach them from a young age the fulfillment of treating their playmates with respect, fairness, and appreciation of each other’s efforts.
