Safe Waters And Childlike Joy

Safe Waters And Childlike Joy

National Child Day – November 20, 2025

The ideal environment for a child is one where they have the freedom to explore and feel security and safety. For caregivers, it is paramount we foster a sense of belonging, reminders of where they come from, who cares for them, and what matters in life. These all come together to give them secure attachments to many people and places: an anchor. The responsibility of caregivers is also to give them a chance to learn practical life skills. The phrase “sink or swim” comes to mind. I often think about those videos where parents gently lower (or sometimes throw) their babies into water. At first, it looks and seems terrifying, yet the baby will instinctively begin to move. Their bodies reflexively move through water; they adjust their breathing. You don’t have to teach them in that moment; they just know. It’s not to say we should start throwing babies into water and hoping for the best. But when we provide safe waters, environments that are supportive, predictable, full of encouragement, and provide access to help, children almost always float. In time, we can help them practice in deeper waters, teaching new skills and building independence. This process will build confidence and teach them they are capable of so much, especially in challenging times. They also learn that whenever they may swim too far, help is just a call away. The balance of trust, support, and gradual independence is the breeding ground for a myriad of practical life skills.

Childhood, at its heart, is a time for fun. For children, being able to play is a right as described by the United Nations. It is not just a pastime; it’s essential. It develops cognitive ability, increases imagination, improves dexterity, and emotional strength. This offers the opportunity to create and explore the world in a space where mistakes are safe, bringing confidence, resilience, and boldness to face future challenges.

Play is a feeling that is never outgrown.

Most importantly, play is fun. Fun reminds us of the laughter that once echoed through backyards. Regardless of age, it brings back familiar feelings of wonder, ebullience, and awe. Childhood is a time of immense joy, curiosity, and amazement in the simple act of experiencing the world.

As caregivers, parents, uncles, aunties, big brothers, and big sisters, let’s give children the best opportunities to play, learn, grow, and have fun. During our mind-numbing meetings, uneventful commutes, tedious tasks, and the percussive rhythm of everyday strain, may we never forget to experience childlike joy again and again — especially as big children.

-Written by: Oladipo Olatona, Support Approach Consultant

Below are some perspectives and reflections on what it means to be a child, from a bunch of “big children”

• “I really believe that supporting a child’s inner world at any age is so important. We focus so much on meeting basic needs and keeping things consistent that we forget that play is also a basic need.  Communication happens through play. Kids tell so many stories through pretend play, drawings, building things, or acting out scenarios. Just because it does not look like the way adults communicate does not make it any less real or meaningful. Storytelling has been used in so many cultures to pass down information, but it is still valid and powerful.
  I honestly think adults can learn a lot from children. Some kids have lived through more than many adults will in their entire lives. Being older does not automatically mean having more wisdom. At the end of the day, children are the experts of their own lives, and play is one of the best ways for us to understand them, support them, and help them heal.”
  • Adana Suing, Support Approach Consultant

• “I remember the warm sun on my skin and the gentle sound of the waves when I was a kid. The beach was my favorite place. I’d spend hours there, just playing in the sand. I loved building big sandcastles with tall towers, watching the sand run through my fingers. Digging my toes into the wet sand near the water. The waves would come after and ruin my castle. Then, I would build again…it was lots of fun. When the wind picked up, my brother and I would get our kites out. They had colorful tails and would fly so high they looked like tiny dots in the sky. It was so exciting to hold the string and feel the kite pulling. Then, we’d play a fun game of soccer right on the sand, running around barefoot and laughing. Those days were the happiest memories from my childhood.
  • Marwan Diab, Clinical Behavior Specialist

• “During my childhood, I was able to make lasting memories with friends and loved ones, from whom I learned many important life lessons. Those memories have remained with me into adulthood. As is the case for many others, I have gone through difficult times in my childhood, but with my connections, relationships, and my learning throughout the years, I was able to overcome adverse experiences and grow from them.”
  • Kaymark Antazo, Clinical Lead

• “For me, the beauty of childhood is the way kids move through the world with honesty, curiosity, and a kind of joy that can’t be manufactured. One of the things I value most about working in PRS is the privilege of watching some of our kids grow over many years and even continuing relationships with them into adulthood. It’s incredibly meaningful to know they still reach out for guidance and support long after our formal role ends. And then there are the simple moments like ending a long day by playing a game of hide-and-seek with one of the little ones, hearing that pure laughter and being reminded that at the heart of everything, they’re just kids: beautiful, innocent, and deserving of every bit of safety and joy we can give them.”
  • Kayla MacLean, Service Area Supervisor PRS

• “When I think back to my childhood, I’m reminded of how carefree life was. Our responsibilities were simple—playing and enjoying the most fun activities each day. One of my favorite memories was the Christmas season at school. We would spend days crafting decorations, organizing potlucks, and playing Secret Santa. Decorating classrooms with ornaments alongside friends, singing carols, and soaking in the festive spirit made this time of year magical. I would eagerly count down the days from November until Christmas, filled with excitement and joy”
  • Vidhi Patel, Support Approach Consultant

• “Childhood lays the blueprint of who we become, planting quiet roots that grow into the ways we love, trust, and move through the world. Those early moments shape everything; how we protect ourselves, how we show up, and the parts of us that continue to grow with time.”
  • Natasha Joseph, Support Approach Consultant

• “My background is play and how important it is for children. Play is their job. I have fond memories of playing, imagining what could be and having no limits to what we could make believe. To this day I can sit down with any child and play, little people, animals, cars and trucks, blocks, you name it. This is truly one of the joys of being a child and being able to express yourself through play.”
  • Jennifer Herman, Client Safety Coordinator

• “Growing up in the rainforest, our forts in the trees were our hideaways, and the bears, deer, and coyotes that moved through our yard were our quiet teachers. Nature showed us how to be still, how to be respectful, and how to find safety in the world around us. From those early lessons, I learned that a successful childhood is one where children feel held by something larger than themselves — a place, a presence, or the steady wisdom of the natural world. With ten children under one roof, we worked hard on the farm, turning chores into songs and games. Our lookout trees and secret forts became places of peace and imagination. Even in hardship, nature and creativity steadied us. A successful childhood, I believe, is one that lets children feel capable, connected, and free to shape their own place of wonder.”
  • Doris Tamminga, Program Administrator

• “When I was a child living in Okotoks, Alberta, my bedroom felt like its own little world. The walls were painted a soft baby blue, gentle and calming, like the sky just after sunrise. Across those walls, someone had painted towering apple trees whose branches stretched all the way up to the ceiling, creating the feeling that I was falling asleep in an orchard. Perched among the branches were bright Blue Jays, frozen mid-chirp, their wings spread as if they were greeting the hand-painted sun that glowed warmly on the ceiling above me. To me, that room has always symbolized the simple but profound need for safety and joy during childhood. It was a space where imagination felt endless and where I could retreat into comfort, color, and playfulness. Every child deserves a place like that: a home that nurtures them, surrounds them with warmth, and gives them memories woven with light and security. But the reality is that not all children grow up in environments that offer this kind of protection or happiness. My room stands as a reminder of what every child should have: a safe haven where they can grow, dream, and feel deeply cared for.”
  • Jillian Scott, Support Approach Consultant