Discovering a real world connection between something that children are learning even before kindergarten and something that happens in the adult world is quite delightful. For me, it’s just further proof that Yes, yes, yes, what kids learn at an early age is tremendously important. Kindergarten readiness skills go far beyond kindergarten.
The latest connection has to do with the sandbox. Apparently, in management terms, when employees are asked to come up with new ideas and suggestions, these are sometimes described as “being in the sandbox” and no one else can criticize them. Just like when kids create something in the sandbox: other kids can’t knock it down and ideas “in the sandbox” can’t be knocked down, either. The social skill of respecting another child’s structures in the sandbox goes all the way up to respecting another adult’s creations in the workplace. Cool. (My thanks for this go to global consultant Mr. R. Foster-Jorgensen of Internal Consultative Skills.)
Next time your child is playing in the sandbox with others, you can use this opportunity to help your little one learn about respecting what others build. Readiness for kindergarten is readiness for much more.