It's been my long-held belief that the tracks for our future social life are laid down way before we ever hit high school. Before junior high, for that matter. Not as far back as the womb, of course - I'm not part of the movement that subscribes to the wearing of headphones on the baby bump, pumping classical music straight to the womb. Bunch of malarkey, that, and totally unproven. But it should come as no great shocking theory that the preschool playground is a microcosm of the world at large. And it begs the question: which part do you play?
The Daredevil No matter what variety of toys available, this one will find whatever is most dangerous, most likely not a toy and undoubtedly not a good idea and head straight for it. Climbs large trees? Check. Plays Wild Bumper Cars with a trike and no protection? Check. Explores garbage cans and port-a lets? Check. This kid is heart-stopping work on the playground, but the bonus is a person who knows no fear and will do what most only dream of.
The Player This kid makes friends with everybody. This kid makes friends with anybody. Children flock to the Player because they know that wherever s/he is, a good time will be had by all. Endlessly creative, the Player can make up a game out of thin air, and when you go to the park, all you have to do is unleash the force and watch it go. Downside is, the Player is flighty and has commitment issues - but still, you can't stay away.
The Swinger The Swinger may have an inner Daredevil, but is smart enough to know good, honest danger when s/he sees it. A deep thinker, the Swinger has a magnetic personality that draws people in and makes them do all the work pushing and entertaining. Swingers have a unique perspective on the world and are destined to lead people, if they can get themselves out of their natural tendency towards laziness - and out of the swing.
The Loner The Loner would no doubt prefer to remain at home indefinitely, but is often dragged ouside by exasperated parents who want their kid to get some fresh air. At the park, the Loner can be found quietly building sandcastles, or in a corner somewhere playing a game called "hide in the cave". When asked to join in the fun, they politely demure. The Loner's brain is not like others - very technical and logical. They may suffer on the social side, but they inevitably end up more successful than most. Think Bill Gates.
The Maker If you build it, they will come. The Maker shares many of the same qualities as the Player and the Loner, but is dedicated exclusively to the sandbox. They may take an occasional slide or romp in the rest of the playground, but their focus is on building - and destroying - sand creations. If the opportunity presents itself, the Maker will enlist the help of others, and will micro-manage their contributions. These kids are easy to keep an eye on, but can be a bit bland to watch unless you, too, enjoy the allure of dirt.
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