Off the wall

I suppose every Grandparent will know that watching grandchildren grow up is nothing like watching your own children grow up.  Firstly, you are not as busy, so you have more time.  When you are with them, you don't have the ultimate responsibility, although it may see as though you do.  At a recent get together, I was playing with my eldest grandson (nearly three).  He is always running around and highly active, he has more energy than I do.  One of his favourite activities at this event was jumping off a wall.  Walking on and jumping off walls is one of those simple childhood pleasures that seem to be disappearing today, so I was pleased to watch him enjoying himself, while I was also looking after him.  He had a couple of tumbles at first, but he soon mastered his new skill.  He is not the sort of child who gives up at the first knock, so even when he fell he came back for more.  He was soon jumping off that wall as easily as he was running back to me to be lifted up again.  There were a couple of other boys there, both heavier and taller, but not a great deal older, I should think.  Perhaps they were impressed by my little athlete, or perhaps they just naturally like to join in.  Not being one to turn children away, I helped them up and held their hands for their first few jumps, as I had with my grandson.  All little boys want to be independent, so both of them wanted to try to do it on their own.  I'm pleased to say that both succeeded, but one got it slightly wrong on his third or fourth attempt and ended up banging his head on the grass - at which point he left in tears, and I didn't see him again.  It was a shame, because it wasn't a big accident.
Even writing this I am aware of the 'health and safety' culture that does not want to see even the slightest bump, but bumps and bruises (and probably much worse) are inevitable in this world, and are key to development.  Without knowing your current limit and trying to exceed it, no progress is ever made.  We don't need to get philosophical with small children though - all we need to do for them is let them enjoy the challenges - walking on, or jumping off the wall, or down the last step(s) of the stairs, and to let them enjoy the exhilaration of it.