It is almost dark as I am writing this, and as I watch the last sunlight from today fade into orange and blue, I also see a young boy on a skateboard using my driveway to turn around. He is the same boy I saw yesterday bouncing a small ball in the street around the corner. He bounced it high, and if he didn’t catch it, he ran after it only to bounce it even higher. He gives me hope, and I want him to do the same for all of you.
Unless you spend time with children like I do, you may think they are all zombies sitting in front of screens who never see the sun. This may be partially true for some, but kids who attend school in person during this pandemic still look forward to recess. They run and swing and slide just like I did many years ago. Sure, the playground equipment looks different. They have brightly colored curved slides whereas I had a tall, straight shot down a metal slide that burned my legs on a hot day. They don’t know the thrill of flying off of a merry-go-round, but they can climb monkey bars.
They enjoy making crafts in class and going to Art to try their hands at drawing, painting, and creating. I hate to say it, but I dread their excitement when they get recorders in Music. That is a sound that cuts right through my nerves. I didn’t have recorders in my school, but I remember being pretty good at the triangle.
Technology is here to stay, but the upcoming generations integrate it in creative ways. Students attending school remotely are learning how to record themselves doing show-and-tell and uploading a video. Yes, show-and-tell is still around. Kids might be showing off the back flip they learned on YouTube by uploading a video to TikTok, but they are doing a real back flip.
Children are still children with all the enthusiasm for life that we had. Sure, they have had a rough year just like adults, but children are resilient, and they follow our lead. We have to teach them safety by keeping distance and wearing masks, but we also need to encourage them to embrace and enjoy life.
I am thankful for the boy finding joy in the simplicity of a bouncing ball. It reminds me to do the same.