I thought I would share a little story from last week about the concept of who is on a child's network or helping hand.
My middle child was preparing to go on her first residential trip with school last Monday to Wednesday. She's never stayed away anywhere before and she only turned 7 years old a few weeks ago. As we packed her things and spent the Sunday getting her ready, I used several opportunities to remind her about keeping safe. Concepts surrounding this are often talked about with our children so it was nothing new to her, just re-visting.
At one point, I asked also her to review her network in light of the trip (no one from home would be with her for the 48 hours). She held up her hand and named her teacher.....a support staff from school.....As she stopped to think who else, I reminded her it needed to be people who could help so she couldn't use her little friends. Without hesitation, she lifted her barefoot off the floor and said "Oh no Mummy, I know; Poppy, Callum, Ellie and that lot - they go on here, my 'Friend Foot' --- [wriggling her fingers then toes, she said again] Network Hand, Friend Foot. See?"
I thought it was so lovely that she had been able to extend this important concept for herself in such a creative and coherent way, and that she was better placed to engage in it by having made it her own, acknowledging that her young friends are important in her life but being able to separate them clearly from her network who she will turn to for help.
judith
