I enrolled my daughter in Circus School this fall for the first time. It's a toddler class for three to four year olds and the program is explicit in emphasizing self-discipline, collaboration, and technical accomplishment. Although I had a feeling Solveig would get a kick out of it, I wasn't at all prepared for the amazing feat her teachers seem to be performing. They have opened the door to an incredible transformation.
Solveig is a bright, imaginative, and clever child with a great sense of humor and a lot of insight into what's going on around her. The thing is that she has always demonstrated a tendency to hold back in public: she rations her words with others, withholds her exuberance, and is always the last in line when it comes to getting materials or toys in her other classes. However much I'd like to teach her to open up to the world, I'm often at a loss because I default into that very same behavior myself.
It came as a great surprise to me, then, to watch Solveig during her first days of Circus School. She was visibly excited and eagerly propelled herself to the front of the line. She didn't hesitate or hang back during exercises, but dove right into trying things she couldn't possibly even have imagined doing: navigating balance beams, somersaulting through obstacle courses, flying through the air on a trapeze, balancing atop an enormous white globe, and doing handstands on tiny wooden pedestals. When she messed up on something, she tried again and listened attentively to the constructive criticism offered by her teachers.
I was impressed, and - typically me - tried to analyze as I observed their activities what exactly it was about the class that made things click for Solveig. Was it the novelty? Was it the athleticism? Was it the way her teachers took control? While I think these things play a part in the overall effectiveness of the class, I don't think they can account for the transformation I saw working over my daughter.
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