ON YOUR MARK. GET SET


GO! Most of us are familiar with this and the race that ensues at most sports day. My perspective is after seeing kids sports day and the learnings from the same. It's incredibly insightful to sit in the sidelines and observe parents and kids exhibit a myriad of emotions . 

Just imagine a simple three step kindergarten race involving a few balls , plates and hoola hoops. The joy the teachers would have got in devising a simple race to ensure it's an inclusive environment and every child participates. Then you hear about the same from the kids almost every day leading up to the sports day. Each time the enthusiasm focuses on the fun team spirit and rarely they will tell you who came first unless you ask them. 

Cut to sports day and you see kids all lined up ready for the race. On your mark get set go and the race begins. The interesting part is if you are a parent you can observe the parents in the sidelines and that's just so interesting. Edging the kids, yelling out instructions on the optimum way to do it and the final bit where they almost finish like they have run the race. The sheer joy in seeing the child win is just so evident in their faces. It will be great if that team participation is the biggest takeaway from these events as much as it's about winning and losing. The delight is to watch the kids and the different personalities they exhibit. Some will talk all along the race and ensure their friends complete first. Some would prefer to dance to the music while some will just want to perfectly complete the race and tasks. Even if this meant multiple attempts in completing the race. Unadulterated joy and fun is all that the kids experience and as you move higher to other classes the attitude, approach all changes. 

Somewhere the whole competition agenda sets in and that transition is sometimes too quick. I am not against competition but just curiously thinking out aloud as to where and when this shift happens. 

Image result for kids running race clipart



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