I have previously shared about the walks Immy and I take around our block most days and the little collections she makes along the way.
Recently we made a little collection of a different kind, we’ll call it a ‘community building’ collection!
We started out, rounded the first corner and came across our next door neighbour sweeping the footpath. Immy stopped and had a lovely toddler-style ‘chat’ with him about his broom, she loves brooms and sweeping! I say ‘chat’ as Immy is not yet saying too many clearly defined words but she has no trouble making herself understood using sounds, gestures and facial expressions.
We walked on over to our neighbour’s gate to say hello to his dog, Mindy. Immy gets very excited whenever we are out and she meets a dog though we always caution her to stand back and just look and say ‘hello’ to strange dogs we do not know. So it was lovely for her to spend a few moments with Mindy at the gate (I honestly could not tell you who was the more excited), especially when Mindy poked her nose through the opening for a pat and licked Immy’s fingers.
We walked on and met an elderly man raking his yard. He told us all about his grandchild of a similar age.
We walked on and saw a cat sunning herself on a verandah. She came up to us when we called ‘hello’ and Immy had a lovely time patting her and laughed with excitement when the cat rubbed against her legs.
We walked on and watched the traffic warden for the nearby school blow her whistle to let children cross. She asked us how our walk was going.
We walked on and saw some happy school children walking home with their mums, they waved to us in that naturally enthusiastic manner that children have, especially once school is out for the day.
Rachel Carson said;
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”
How lucky Immy is to have many companions to share in her experience of the world.
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Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.
