Problem-Solving Masters

In the past few weeks, I’ve been struck by our heroes’ collective problem-solving abilities. It’s so interesting to watch this group of children work together to find solutions, without seeking help from an adult. They feel empowered to do it by themselves.

It happens daily, but one instance that really stuck out happened during outdoor water play last week. I brought along some water balloons, pre-filling as many of the colorful orbs as I could. I also brought along the water balloon-filling bottle and extra balloons in case they wanted to try it, but didn’t know if it would get much use as soon as the heroes realized how hard it was to use.

After they had so much fun throwing the first set of water balloons, the heroes set a goal of filling the bucket with “hundreds” more, and reached for the bottle without hesitation. With a little guidance, they learned how to position and hold the balloon on the spigot, pump the bottle full of air, press the lever to release the water, then tie the end of the balloon. It was complicated and difficult work. Balloons kept falling and bursting on the grass and squirting in heroes’ faces as they attempted to tie them.

Did these learners get frustrated or give up? Did they seek out some easier, more fun form of play (i.e. the nearby sprinkler)? Not once. I marveled at their tenacity and joy in the face of such a difficult task. They each took on a role, worked to try and master it, and encouraged each other along the way. Their little assembly line was quite a sight! They spent the better part of the afternoon trying to fill up those balloons. In the end, they didn’t amass quite the arsenal they had aimed for. But it really didn’t matter. It was the hard task of filling them and working as a team that was so engaging.

These children’s ability to organize themselves and find solutions to various challenges is teamwork at its finest. It’s a joy to watch.