Her legs dangle over the side. Her hands are gripped so tightly to the edge that her knuckles are turning white. She glances towards the ground. It seems so far away, such a long way to fall. She looks over to the bench where her Mother is sat.

“Please,” she calls, “please help me down!”

Mum throws her head back with laughter. “You can do it,” she shouts back, smiling, “I’ve seen you do it before!”

The little girl glances round the park, at the swings, the slide, the see-saw. If only she could get off this climbing frame, she could go and play on any one of them. If only her Mother would help her down.

“I can’t, It’s too high!”

“Don’t be silly, it’s not too high. Jump, you’ll be fine!”

Her eyes move again to the ground, and a frown crosses her face. Perhaps, if she’s careful, she can do it. Perhaps it’s not too high after all. Her Mother seems to think it’ll be OK. Those swings look like good fun, too – and right now one of them is free, but who knows for how long – another child could get there before she does if she spends too long on the edge of this climbing frame. Nervously, she sidles forward, stretching her legs towards the ground.

“That’s right!” Her Mother’s tone is encouraging, “you’re doing it! Just a little bit further.”

She recoils for a second as apprehension grips her once more. She braces herself, takes a deep breath, and she jumps.

She lands.

A smile breaks out across her face – she did it! Suddenly, her Mum is cheering and clapping, and she’s cheering and clapping too. She has faced up to her fears, and she has overcome them. A small victory, perhaps, but when you’re only 3 feet tall, even the smallest victory can be a big deal.

She runs across the park, throws herself over the nearest swing, and starts spinning around, giggling.

Her Mother smiles proudly, and goes back to reading her book.

And next time she’s on the climbing frame, they’ll do it all over again.