"Why Didn't You Tell Me That?"

Everyone knows the feeling of being at the top of their game.

In early childhood, that looks a little different than in other professions.

The playground where I work is divided into two levels, out of necessity (Bay Area real estate is at a premium!). The upper level has our play structure and a fair amount of open area to run. The bottom level is a little more compact.

The steps at my school are not unsafe, but they are wood steps, and on this particular day, they were wet. This child knows "we don't play on the stairs," but there were robbers to be chased down, and the stairs were playable area.

As the child started his descent, I had that moment of clarity. I walked over to him, made eye contact, and said, "Hey, do you know why I don't let you play on the stairs?"

He shook his head.
"Do you remember the ice you saw on the bench? That's on the stairs too, and I don't want you to slip and fall."

He digested this for a moment, and responded, "Well, why didn't you tell me that before?! Ok, I'll just play here."

Why didn't I tell him that? I have plenty of excuses.

I had told the children he was playing with.
Who in their right mind plays on slippery stairs?
There was room everywhere else to play!

But the fact is, I hadn't told this child, this day, that I wasn't allowing him to play on the stairs because I didn't want him to get hurt. And this child is not an exception; when children know we make rules to keep them safe, rather than keeping them from having fun, they respect and understand- for the most part.