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Protection & Participation: The Big Stick

Girl, 4 years old, United States

“I was walking on a stick. It was a big stick. Teachers helped me get down. It felt crunchy. I felt scared ’cause I might fall down. But I didn’t.
I held the teachers’ hands.”

After a walk to our neighborhood woods, this child was reflecting on her experience. Children are smart, capable learners, who encounter new happenings every day. This child described an occurrence where she felt small and her world seemed so large… it frightened her, but she was able to conquer that fear with the help of her teachers providing a steady hand and gentle encouragement. Being out in the natural world allowed her to take in the serenity of the place and see the world from a new “high up” perspective.