Dear Mulberry,
We use our bodies to navigate space. Our bodies tell us where we are. You can close your eyes and touch your nose. Try it. Your body tells your hand how to move to where your nose is. You can stand in the middle of the room. Your grownup can stand at the edge of the room. Find them. Now close your eyes and walk to them.
Our ability to know where we are and where others are and where things are is called proprioception. It’s one of our senses. Proprioception. Others include sight, touch, hearing, taste, smell, vestibular, and interoception. How we sense things with each of our senses is different in different people. Part is just how we are. Part changes as we have more and more experiences.
Moving our bodies while pulling, pushing, and/or carrying something is part of proprioception too. Fill up a box, basket, bucket or pan with something like blocks. Really pile it up. Now walk as quickly as you can without spilling. Propioception.
Today, two of you ran up the ramp following another. That person started to climb the ladder to the slide. The next person was moving towards and then climbing the ladder faster. The first person was in the way. Depending on our sense of proprioception, how we navigate this situation safely varies. I wonder what you would do if you were the first person to make sure there are no booms; the second person. I wonder how you could help each other.
Love,
Teacher Michelle