It is always important to sit down at the beginning of a new year (even though here we are already in March, just like that!) and really consider what will be the focus of the year.
When I did this in January, quite a while before school began, I was drawn to the image of four pillars: strong and sturdy they needed to be, yet also beautiful like the Greeks of Ancient Greece used to make them. It took a little while, as there are SO many different aspects to take into account when considering the young child, but I distilled all the many points to four. However, as this is an article and not a book, I shall focus on only the last point for the sake of this “Grapevine” article.
1. Love and care
The young child imitates parents, teachers and others important to their immediate environment. HOW ARE these pivotal people, that is, how do they do all they do? Are they patient and kind? Do they kneel in wonder at a butterfly and observe the magic powder on its wings? Do they speak kindly to the cleaner and the gardener? When packing away, do they slam drawers stuffed to the brim with needless, uncared for things? Do they clean rhythmically, or is cleaning done in a huff and with no care taken? Of course, we are human beings and as such we are allowed mistakes! But is the overall picture one of harmony and respect; respect for our fellow human beings, the animal world and even the world of inanimate objects?
2. Beauty
In the Kindergarten we strive to surround ourselves with beauty as much as possible. Our toys are made of natural materials and neatly packed away. Our rooms are warm and inviting, and our gardens call to little ones to come and play. The materials we use to create our arts and crafts are of excellent quality: real wool and felt in vibrant colours, beeswax crayons and thick painting paper that allows the making of dreamy and delicate wet-on-wet pictures. Outside, the trees are meant to be climbed and “goblin forest” is to be explored. The sandpit contains magic crystals, and swings allow children to soar high into the sky.
3. Stories
The fourth pillar cannot be anything other than stories! However, this aspect carries so much meaning that it cannot be explored in depth in this particular article. Suffice it to say that the focus is on Grimm’s Fairy Tales, nature stories and healing stories and that every single story is meaningful and wholesome.
4. Movement
A Playgroup or Kindergarten class is in constant movement, whether it is during free play sessions, ringtime, activity time (drawing, painting, modelling or doing crafts) or when acting out stories; storytime at the end of the day being the exception, when a candle is lit and children listen in quiet wonder as the story unfolds. Both fine and gross motor activities are woven into not only ringtime, but also into other activities. We gallop, hop and skip, we crawl and balance, we roll, catch and throw, paint, draw, model and cut, we play in the mud and sand, sew and bead, build forts, houses and tents and
climb jungle gyms and trees… the list is neverending!
All of the above support our children in their healthy growing, integrating their sensory systems and feeling at home and confident in their bodies.
What can parents do to support their children in their healthy growing in the younger years?
Allow children to do as much as possible of the following:
- Sweeping
- Raking
- Cutting vegetables
- Washing and drying dishes
- Obstacle courses/ building forts/tents, also using different textures
- Washing windows/ walls/ cars (using large movements)
- Dusting/ polishing
- Drawing, painting, modelling with clay/ plasticine / beeswax
- Playing in the mud (building a dam, making mud balls etc)
- Crafting activities, including cutting with scissors; beading, sewing, finger knitting etc
- Swimming
- Climbing (trees, jungle gyms, ladders)
Remember: screens are excellent child minders, but her fee is very steep.
To conclude, our classrooms endeavour to be spaces that allow children to have a magical
childhood, while at the same time equipping them to be ready to join the Class 1 classroom and be able to focus, concentrate and learn with enthusiasm, while at the same time being warmly interested in and caring towards Mother Earth and all her inhabitants. May we all be blessed in this endeavour!
Sonya le Roux
Kindergarten Teacher
