re:<br><div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><br><br>WHAT SKILLS DO KIDS NEED IN ORDER TO BE FULL PARTICIPANTS<br><br>Emerging Skills:
<br><br>Play -- a process of exploration and experimentation.</blockquote><div><br>I think we might do well to consider not just play, but PLAYFULNESS as a skill that is of great value to full participation. As a skill, it implies an ability to invite others into play, to understand the structure of dialogue well enough to make the implicit, ex- Playfulness, to me, implies an attitude of openness, responsiveness, willingness to engage, experiment, and, from time to time, to fail.
<br><br>This willingness to fail, which I think is so central to the experience of playfulness, requires, especially in forums such as this, a social contract that is fundameltally supportive. In other exchanges, where the community engages "flaming" and personal attacks, playfulness is nowhere to be found. And though there may be an open invitation to participate, the quality of participation becomes less and less inviting.
<br><br>Perhaps we should also add MATURITY and COMPASSION.<br></div></div><br>-- <br>Bernie DeKoven<br>funsmith<br><br><a href="http://www.deepfun.com">http://www.deepfun.com</a><br><a href="http://www.majorfun.com">http://www.majorfun.com
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