Editor:
The best gift we can give to a youngster is an unlikely one – a tennis ball. It matters not whether the ball is new or used just as long as it has lots of bounce in it (some new, imported ones don’t).
This inexpensive present should be combined with having a wall or piece of plywood to throw the ball off; the ball always comes back! If there is no convenient wall at home, there is always one at school.
A ball for throwing, catching rolling, spinning, sharing, and more, is claimed to be the oldest heritage plaything in the world. If we ensure that our kids have ready access to this simple piece of equipment they will develop skills and friendships that are often hard to find in other ways. In fact, I will guarantee that if a class, or better yet an entire school, brought a tennis ball to school in their backpack most days of the school year, they would be the most skillful youth in our province. And, most importantly, those skill sets would be achieved without the need for formal instruction or special facilities. What a gift that would be!
For parents and teachers who would like more validation of the merits of ball play they should read the book by poet Richard Wilbur, entitled A Game of Catch.
Have a ball!
Garfield Pennington, Roberts Creek
