January Reflection
The New Year has welcomed some wonderful changes! Welcome darling Lucy and family!!
Now that our group is primarily 2-year-olds, there is a recognition of possession and request from the children for independent work. Thus, I have introduced work bandannas for the toddlers. This stage is important for the initial step of moving the child toward independent concentration, which generates greater imaginative play and problem-solving.
When your child chooses a new work off the shelf I assist them in placing his/her choice on their bandanna. Once exploration begins I use the following language with the younger children, “__ wants to concentrate alone on this work. Lets find something fun for you to do too.” Many times all four children become enthusiastically interested in someone else’s work so they will repeatedly approach and attempt touch which can create discomfort to the concentrating child. During these times, I whisper the reminder and gently move the inquisitive child to another work or to sit beside me as we watch the older child discover and problem-solve the work. Already I am seeing amazing growth in each child as they piece-together the initial practice of focus and awareness of other’s needs.
These concentrated work sessions last between 15-20 minutes and they are pure magic! The children set the rotation and pace and many times pick-up on one-another’s need for transition to a group activity (songs, books, dancing, bubbles or moving to play outside). Many times they end a work cycle by heading to snack together where they eat and connect.
It is lovely to see the organic, effortless methods the children use for blending concentration with group joy and connectedness.
Notes regarding language:
My use of the word “work” is to describe the children’s activities in class because what they are doing is their important work—figuring out the world. Offering children a calm environment allows him/her to seriously work at something until they master the task (removing container lids, rolling balls, sweeping, ect.). Once the activity is mastered, they child finds new and creative ways of using the material. A child’s understanding and love of the world is shaped from the exploration and practice of how we humans use our bodies and minds with the materials offered. I find using the word “work” shows respect for his/her process.
February Topics
We will connect February to January by making the month about love and celebration of family. I have picked a couple of sweet books, poems and Raffi songs that celebrate what we as families share together.
When you have time at home, please talk to your child about what you love doing with them. We also will create more space and time in class for care of our friends (tea parties, massages, silly faces in the mirror, scarf dancing). We will continue to enjoy our peacemaker music—Michael Franti, Woody Guthrie, Raffi and Bob Marley. The children hug and dance as freely and majestically as could be!
Reminders:
Please check your emails for monthly invoices and quarterly tuition receipts. Also, please periodically check the Klahanie Calendar for revisions--hopeful we will have one or two more families in our Klahanie community in the next month or so and snack week assignments might be altered!!
