Watch a group of children for long enough and you'll notice something interesting. Some children jump straight into a game. Some prefer to watch first. Some become the organisers. Some make up their own rules. Some race around excitedly. Others quietly explore at their own pace. And most of them are having fun.
Not every child plays the same way.
Is There A "Right" Way To Play? As parents, grandparents and teachers, it can be easy to assume that the loudest are having the most fun. When a child hangs back, watches from the sidelines or joins in differently, we sometimes wonder whether they are shy, anxious or lacking confidence. Sometimes that could be true. Often it isn't. Many children simply experience the world differently. Some like to understand a game before they join in. Some prefer smaller groups. Others enjoy creating their own version of a game rather than following the crowd. Different doesn't equal unhappy.
This idea inspired one of the characters from the Just BEE World®.
In Bee-Lieve and the Shy Snail, Frog, Ant and Ladybird are busy playing LeapFrog. Snail watches from the sidelines. He cannot run. He cannot hop. He cannot leap. As he watches the others having fun, Snail begins to believe that he can't play at all. It's a feeling many children recognise. When everyone else seems to know exactly what to do, it's easy to think that there must be something wrong with being different.
With a little help from Bee-Lieve, Snail begins to see things differently. It's not that he can't play, it's that he's measuring himself against Frog. Every creature has different strengths. Different interests. Different ways of being. And perhaps a snail has something special to bring too. As the story unfolds, Snail discovers that there isn't one correct way to join in, make friends or belong.
There are many.
Eventually, he finds his own way to play. Not a frog way. Not an ant way. A snail way. When we think about children's confidence and self-esteem, we often picture boldness. We picture children putting their hands up. Speaking up. Taking the lead. Joining in. But confidence can look very different.
Sometimes confidence is asking a question. Sometimes confidence is trying something new. Sometimes confidence is quietly doing things your own way. The goal is to help each child become comfortable being themselves.
Belonging Is More Important Than Fitting In
One of the themes that runs through many Just BEE World® stories is the difference between fitting in and belonging. Fitting in often means becoming more like everyone else. Belonging means being accepted for who you already are. Children don't need to be different to make friends. They need opportunities to discover where their unique qualities fit. That journey is an important part of emotional development, friendship and growing confidence.
A Question Worth Asking
The next time you see a child watching from the sidelines, rather than asking yourself:
"Why aren't they playing like everyone else?"
Instead
"How are they choosing to play?"
You may discover strengths, creativity and ways of seeing the world that would otherwise go unnoticed. One of our favourite lines from *Bee-Lieve and the Shy Snail* is:
"I'll play in my own unjumpy way."
Because perhaps the goal isn't to play like everyone else. Perhaps the goal is simply to find your own way to play.
Free Just BEE Poster
As a thank you for visiting justbeeworld, we've included a free Just BEE Poster featuring Snail and his favourite line from the story.
"I'll play in my own unjumpy way."
Download it, colour it and make it your own.
0 comments