"I'm exploring the ocean!"

I had a rather proud Mummy Moment the other day while out at the beach with my little man. Let me set the scene for you a little bit. . .

The weather wasn’t fabulous, but it was Waitangi Day (our NZ national holiday for you non-kiwis reading this) and we were determined to get out and do something as a family. We had organised with a bunch of friends to meet at the beach and despite the windy, overcast weather we all braved the beach front to build sand castles and go for an impromptu exploration of the beaches rock pools.

My little Action Man (which has become his adventure name) was in his element, he set off, not caring where anyone else was to explore the pools and see what he could find. I just followed along behind him letting him go about his busy explorations.

Soon he started to get closer to the ocean, so I said to him, “Hey where are you going buddy?” He turned around to me and quickly said, “I’m exploring the ocean!” and then continued on his way. That is when my proud mummy moment began! I quickly got out my camera and started snapping photos of him “exploring the ocean!” After all, my son had just used the word “exploring” in a sentence, all on his own accord!

As he walked very adventurously through the rock pools he chanted, “going to the waves, going to the waves!” Pointing out sea treasures he found along the way. A few minutes later after we had stopped to check out a little rock pool he called out to me again, “Look Mum. I found a little waterfall. . . I build a bridge.” He was just loving having the time, freedom and space to explore as he wanted to.

Again we continued on through the rock pools, where he spotted some big seagulls playing in the water. As he got closer he called out to them while waving, “Hello seagulls!” He stopped and watched them for a while then turned to me and said, “Mum, I’m soo busy!”This sentence and all the had happened before it epitomized for me the concept that “play is work & learning” for children. In my little man’s mind, as he jumped from rock pool, to rock pool, turned over rocks, inspected seaweed, collected shells and watched the the seagulls at play, he was busy, he was working on doing what children should be doing. . .  figuring out his world and how he fits into it, what he loves about it and what he wants to learn more about.

As you can see from the photos, he wasn’t dressed for exploring the ocean. He fell in quite a few times and got quite wet. The weather was not fabulous, and it could have been easier to just stay at home and watch a DVD or do the usual home routine. But in braving the elements we got to have a great learning moment together. And I got to to hear those precious words that lets me know he is taking in everything I am trying to teach him about the value or learning. . .  “I’m exploring”