Teatime Treat for Pippin’s Party
I had a gorgeous little teatime treat for Pippin who turned 4 today.
Her wonderful Mummy booked me to come and tell stories with her and her friends as they filled their tummies with sandwiches and cupcakes at 5.30pm.
We sat on cushions and told tales together. At 4 though, movement is king, so yes we sat, but we also stood as tall as oaks, snored like sleepy mice and rolled down steeeeep hills whilst being wiggly and excited.
When you book a professional entertainer for your small one’s party, it can be tempting as a parent to try and make sure they are “paying attention” and “sitting nicely” but honestly it’s a wonderful opportunity to sit back and watch them just being themselves.
A good entertainer will be relaxed, calm and not fuss about small people getting up and moving about. In fact, when small children listen it very rarely looks how we as adults expect. Making eye contact and being still take such a lot of energy for some children that if they DO manage to remain statue-like, it’s really unlikely that they will actually hear what you are saying.
If you’re still reading, I’ll assume it’s ok to let my inner nerd out.
We good?
Good.
In a groundbreaking 2012 study Called “Rest is not Idleness” Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, Joanna A. Christodoulou and Vanessa Singh investigated the benefits of rest on development and education.
Essentially the brain, after learning a new thing, automatically engages in a process called Default Mode. It’s in this process that the brain can recall memories, imagine the future, consolidate learning, make connections with social emotions and moral connotations.
Because a LOT of things are new to children, they need to engage this Default Mode a lot too. It’s my theory that physical movement helps Default Mode kick in.
And THAT is why kids move.
A lot.
It’s literally them trying to make sense of the world.
I was paid richly in smiles and cake-crumb cuddles at the end (and actual money from Wonderful Mummy) AND then, this glorious sunset.
Thank you for being 4 today Pippin.
