This past summer, I observed a group of boys making a splash at a nearby swimming pool. In fact, it went a bit beyond a single splash. They’d invented a game that involved multiple splashes.

The buoyant group ranged in age from around 6 to around 10 years old. They could have named the game Making A Splash since making a big splash appeared to be the primary goal of their play. Here’s how they played:

One child stood on the pool’s edge, back to the water and holding one end of a green pool noodle. Another kid grabbed the noodle’s other end. They both held tight as the first kid leaned back over the water. They pulled in opposite directions. The noodle stretched. Tension built as laughs and shouts increased. Then, the second kid let go.

SPLASH goes the first kid into the water.

Everyone hoots, laughs, and yells. I heard things like, “That splash was huge!”, “You looked so scared when he let go!”, and “Did you fear-pee? I think I fear-peed my first time.”

Then, another pair of kids repeated the process. And another. And another. All afternoon long.

Making A Splash Wrap-Up

On the surface, it looked like their play was about making a splash. That’s probably how the boys would have described it. But it was really about comradery, bonding, giving and receiving trust, facing fear, and exhibiting bravery. These are all crucial things in a child’s development that are challenging for adults to plan or teach. In my experience, as a child and an adult, attempts to do so feel phony and forced.

These lads managed it all with not much more than a green pool noodle, thousands of gallons of water, and some good-natured ribbing. That shows the power of big blocks of time for child-directed play and exploration.

Some Pool-Noodle-Related Posts

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