Around the age of four and a half it is natural for children to skip, despite it being relatively inefficient compared to walking and running.  There’s no evolutionary reason for it… except it is fun.

SKIPPING 

I’m skipping, just to see if I can
it comes as natural as breathing
as my mind travels back to childhood
as my happiness swells through the
exertion.  

A stick-in-the-mud, says you’ll 
wear out your shoes – is this what his
mother told him once long ago to
tamper his fun, or is it just being
old and grumpy? 

If you are happy, let it all out with
a smile and a skipping hop and slide,
and if not happy, you need it
even more, because you can’t skip
without happy! 

Remember hopscotch, or jump
rope, or wheelies on a bicycle, 
such meaningless, un-measured fun
now possibly beyond our reach, 
but for skipping. 

So when the world gets you down
when the press of life is upon you,
then take a moment for skipping 
and unwind and be a kid again, 
happy!