A Vital Game for Kids to Master: Follow the Leader Mark Gordon | September 20, 2019 Why Is “Follow the Leader” So Important?</p> <div>Alan Watts claimed that “Hide snd Seek” was a universal game found in every culture since the dawn of history–probably before as it taught vital skills of survival for hunter/gatherers: escape and attack. At It is still a popular game, but with children being less physically active, it may soon become endangered. Why, in this advanced technological age, is this important? Why is it vital for our young to master this basic skill? Even today it has critical components to assist in the success for not only each child, but possibly, for the survival of our species. Yes, this seems like a crazy claim. Check out what this psychologist says:</div> <div>https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/learning-play/200912/hide-and-seek</div> <div>Yet, we are in danger of our very young not having a sufficient “practice” time. After a safe and healthy environment, little is more important than learning how to play creatively by oneself and with others. We learn through this play how to get along with and collaborate with our friends, neighbors, and even those we do not like.</div> <div>Socially, understanding a variation of the “Hide and Seek” game is “Follow the Leader. A simple version is where where each participant switches roles from being leader and then follower. In projects and ventures with others–whether school, business, or community, it is a key cog in moving to solutions.</div> <div>In this 47-second video clip above, the task was to physically improvise to the music. Any movement is allowed when you are the leader. Then the roles switch when prompted by the caller. Neither knows what he/she will do or what the other person will when leading. The challenge is to synch up. At some points, we are neither followers or leaders. We just are moving together. It felt like being “in the zone.” Now we know that the two of us can work together.</div> <div>We will be demonstrating this activity with different size and age groups on our upcoming road trip starting this October 3rd.Check back to see how these learning experiments turn out?</div> <p>
