As temperatures rise during the summer, people find different compensatory strategies to endure them. There are two kinds of people: those who stay under the AC for a whole day (if you’re lucky to have one) and others who prefer to spend time outside. 

Last week I decided to take a break from my hectic lifestyle and spend time at the beach, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching children playing. It got me thinking about the importance of exposure to different environments. 

Why is this exposure so significant?

Different backgrounds present different contexts and therefore require different patterns of behaviour. What is acceptable in school is not permitted at home, at the beach, and vice versa. Changing the environment is also helpful for our children’s growth and development. Going to one specific beach for the whole summer may be the most practical choice for some children because they have a particular spot they like to jump off or an area they are familiar with. Although routine is essential, it might also contribute to rigid patterns; breaking the habit is necessary to experience as it brings about change and the learning process of dealing with change. Preparing our children for the potential change in the environment is also essential. Before leaving to go to the beach, one may say, “Today we are going to a new place to swim; it has rocks and not sand like we usually experience. We can jump together, or if you don’t want to, we can slowly climb down a ladder; I will be there to help you”. In this way, children will be exposed to sandy and rocky beaches and assured that although the environment will be different, their guardians or parents will support them throughout the experience. Playing outside the setting of one’s home allows a certain level of creativity, and play patterns outside the house might not necessarily be the same as the ways carried out indoors. This point brings me to highlight the choice of the title for this piece. While basking in the sun, I heard a young girl say she was out of cake batter. This immediately caught my attention, and when I looked over my shoulder to check what all the commotion was about, I realised that it was only a young girl playing with her younger brother, imagining they were working in a bakery. The importance of pretend play can’t go unnoticed. It helps kids learn about life and themselves. It also helps them better understand and react to social cues, how to deal with their emotions and the generalisation of knowledge in different contexts and social situations.