My house

Part of our family theme this week involved making a family with our blocks.  We drew the kids on some blocks, and built a house for them.  It included a fridge and couch, but that's about all we seemed to need.  

Then we made our houses with paper shapes. There was a lot of variety, and some of the kids just wanted to use the time to practice their cutting skills. 

Sad Chickens

Today was a sad day for the chickens.  They lost one of their own.  It was quite a surprise for all of us.  We were out in the yard with all 4 of them in the morning.  We went in for snack and circle time from 9:30-10:30.  When we were back out in the yard after that, one of the chickens was making a lot of noise by the fence, and was clearly upset.  At first, when Mr. Lyman went to check it out, he found a flurry of feathers and knew if wasn't good.  Then, he found the poor dead chicken, right by the fence.  The chicken friend carried on for quite awhile, and the other 2 chickens were nowhere to be seen.  We looked and looked for them, everywhere the kids suggested: in the toddler area, in their coop, in the compost pile.  But, we couldn't find them.  We developed theories about what happened. Who did this? Some ideas: a bear, a wolf, a coyote, a fox, a shark, a hawk.  Where were the others?  Did they get carried off?  Did they escape the fence and run away?  

Then, someone suggested the bush in the far corner of the yard.  We looked, and the 2 other chickens were tucked in the bush, hiding.  Poor things were probably terrified, but they were alive and well!

Although it was a traumatic event for our chickens, the kids did not seem very shaken by this event.  They looked at the dead chicken (which we carefully put on the other side of the fence, so there was no danger of anyone touching it), and were very engaged in solving the mystery of it.  Some of them were concerned about the other chickens, and wanted to comfort them.  One kid jokingly asked if a coyote would eat them.  No one was very distraught by it all, though.  It was amazing to all of us that a fox or coyote would sneak into the yard and take a big bite out of one of our chickens right in the middle of our day.  

Here's a video of the brave chicken who stood by her friend, making a fuss.  She wouldn't leave the dead chicken's side, as she paced and clucked.

And here is a video of our discovery of the other 2 chickens, who were alive after all.

Cancer and Friendship

One of our strong little beings is standing up against cancer, fighting the good fight.  She's been brave, and we are proud of her.  We also can't wait to see her again, and have her among us again.  We miss her.  The kids ask about her, and one reported dreaming about her.  To show our love and support, we assisted the kids in making a quilt for her.  We were able to decorate the hand prints and sew it together as a group (yes, with the kids helping to sew it with the machine) in time for her third birthday.  

Earlier, when she was spending her days in the hospital, we made a card that included hand prints, too. I like to use the hand prints, because it is a representation of the kids and teachers that can be seen by their varying size and shape.  I also like it because it is easy to pretend that those hands are there with her, hugging her, rubbing her back, holding her hand, playing guitar, and whatever else a friendly hand might do.  

Stay strong, little friend.  We love you and miss you.

Thanks giving

First, I give thanks to the parents, who trust us with the care of their children -- no small task!
I give thanks for the precious little lives I get to spend my days with.
I give thanks to their lively little minds that bring me cheer, laughter, and wonderment.
I give thanks for the expressions on their faces that tell whole stories.
I give thanks for the noises they make, loud and soft, verbal and nonverbal.
I give thanks for the challenges I face: opportunities to grow.
I give thanks for the perspective they bring to my life.  Seeing through their eyes is colorful!
I give thanks for small hands that appear in my big hand.
I give thanks for the cuddles and hugs, my "blankets."
I give thanks for the way these small people can move in big ways.
I give thanks for the chance to witness how they use their creative minds.
I give thanks for whole small bodies, crashing into mine (yes, even if I'm surprised).
I give thanks for little bodies who end up in my arms.
I give thanks for outdoor space, and our commitment to spend time there.
I give thanks for my coworkers, who speak with love in their voices.
I give thanks for my coworkers' creativity and love of imagination.
I give thanks for the respect I see for children where I work.
I give thanks for mittens and hats and snow suits that keep these little bodies warm.
I give thanks for healthful food that is devoured by these little mouths.
I give thanks for the community that has developed here.
I give thanks for work that welcomes me and my child together.
I give thanks for work.
I give thanks for the opportunity to give my gifts in a meaningful way.
I give thanks for the chance to learn every day.
I give thanks that this tender beginning of life is there for me to witness and be actively present in, even as I watch my own kids grow past it.

Tone

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." 

Billy - age 4 

This topic of tone of voice has come up a couple times for me lately.  It's powerful stuff.  While some people are more sensitive to tone of voice than others, based on their personality (introverts are more sensitive to it than extroverts, for example), I am also developing a theory about tone of voice and young children.  Here it is:

I think that young children are more sensitive to tone of voice than we adults are.  The reason I have developed this theory is not only from experience.  Yes, I have experienced the way young children are keenly aware of body language and tone of voice.  However, my theory is based not only on that, but also on the development of language.  Young children are closer (much, actually) to the nonverbal stage of life than we are.  Some are still emerging from it.  In the non-verbal stage, they were used to communicating without words.  Their reliance on non-verbal cues mades them sensitive to subtle changes in body language, etc.  Yes, we all were in that stage at one point.  I think that since they are closer to that stage, that maybe they subconsciously remember what it is like, and have retained some of the skills they developed during that stage.  

Because they are closer to their non-verbal stage than we are, they are more sensitive to the non-verbal cues.  Because they are more sensitive, it is even more important for us as adults to pay attention to our own non-verbal cues.  The tone of our voice can tell them much more than our words do.  The expression on our faces tell the volumes about how we are feeling, and maybe even what we are thinking.  Our body language can be enough to make them feel vulnerable or confident.  Raised eyebrows vs. a slightly furrowed brow; crossed arms or open; standing tall, or squatting down to their level. . . these things all tell young children how much we honor and respect them; what feelings are really behind our words; whether we are judging them or accepting them.  

It's a delicate task to keep not only every word, but our posture, our tone of voice, our facial expressions all positive and receptive and loving.  Of course we want to give them love, and we want them to be receptive.  As caregivers, if we want them to receive love from us, we need to not only use loving words, but a loving tone, and safe, receptive body language.  This is a constant challenge for us, but an important one.

We need to keep their names safe in our mouths.

~ Katie