Kids are truly amazing

My son, Josh (13), participates on an Odyssey of the mind team which I coach. Their team placed 2nd at the regional level and that qualified them to compete at the Michigan (state level) tournament this weekend. It was an amazing experience for me.

Odyssey of the Mind is a problem solving program. The premise is that the KIDS do ALL of the work unassisted by adults. They receive a problem in the fall and have several months to work out a solution, build it and present it within the framework of the problem guidelines. The kids write skits, bulid cars, design sets, write music.. all of it... on their own. The assistance that adults can provide is limited to teaching skills like sewing or sawing, providing materials (when asked) and supervising and guiding the kids in the teamwork process.

My team built a vehicle and presented a sales pitch for a product that they designed and created totally from trash. It was fun and humbling to watch.

The real learning in the program doesn't come from the "quality" of the skits or props. It is in the skills they learn about interacting with 6 of their peers in the decision making/teamwork process. The kids learn to listen, to respect each others ideas. They learn what to do when there are two ideas and only one can be used... how to handle that without hurting someone's feelings. What to do when you disagree and how to do it. They learn these things because they need them to solve their problem.

We had the ultimate problem solving/teamwork experience this weekend... disaster struck and the kids had to solve two MAJOR problems in order to compete at all.

Friday night at 9:30pm we discovered that a large percentage of our costumes and props had been left at home (3.5 hours away) by mistake. There was no time to go and get them with the competition in the morning. Instead of panicking, the kids called a team meeting and proceeded to re-create props out of an emergency kit that they had decided to bring with them "just in case". They stayed up until midnight, but managed to recreate and re-work things so that they had what they needed. One problem solved by KIDS with no arguing, fighting or trauma... just kids working hard to get to their goal.

So Saturday morning, we unload the vehicle from the van that transported it to the competition. The kids built this vehicle on their own and they are not experienced builders to say the least. The problem happened when they realized, upon unloading the vehicle, that two major supports had broken enroute and the vehicle (picture tricycle with a huge plywood box attached to it) was unable to stay up on it's own. We had 1.5 hours until they were on stage. 1 hour until they had to check in with their props. These kids wasted no time in firing up the hot glue gun, duct tape, bungee cords and rope... the vehicle was together (although barely) exactly 10 minutes before they needed to get it reviewed by the judge. They were estatic.

They did a great job competing and enjoyed a wonderful time at the college campus of Grand Valley State University. They placed 5th and didn't get to go to the World Competition later this spring, but they realized how hard they worked and were not too disappointed.

I am always in awe of the way kids can handle themselves when adults just back up and let them. These kids had a HUGE problem at a time when they were scared and nervous and under pressure. They never thought that they couldn't do it. There were adults pacing the floors and talking about how hot glue and rope wasn't enough to hold the car together, but the kids never heard them. They never thought they wouldn't get it done. They just kept talking to each other and testing ideas until they had something that worked. They never doubted their own capabilities. I often wonder if at the times when we see our kids underachieving, if it is because we are under-expecting......

Kids truly can amaze us.... but we have to step back far enough to let them.....


Enough rambling for tonight
Love the kids and then LET GO a little.