November 18, 2024

Let the Children Speak

I saw myself as the bestower of place and belonging, of custom and curriculum, too often ignoring the delicate web being constructed by the children in their constant exchange of ideas the moment I stopped talking and they resumed playing.
– Vivian Gussin Paley, A Child’s Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play

Today’s message is contributed by Lois M. Ingellis, M.Ed., an adjunct faculty member of SUNY Empire State College, where she teaches the infant toddler curriculum and environment online course in semi-retirement.

My college students were inspired by this Promise video. I hope EED readers will view and pass this message from the children about allowing them to more fully participate in the classroom everyday. Children don’t learn to walk by being taught to walk they crawl, then cruise, then toddle till they master the upright position. As my 5 year old son said when his sister went from crawling backwards down to stairs to holding on and taking one tread at a time; “she coming down like a human bean, now!”

Children have thoughts to share with adults and peers. They learn how to communicate their feelings and intentions through playing, shared activities and finding common goals. After reading Illuminating Care by Carol Garboden Murray and attending several Reimagining Our Work meetings through Exchange we formed Our CARE Circle which meets monthly to share & discuss anything and everything about early childhood.

Barbara Thornton shared this, which I now share with all of you, in the hope that we will all make more room to listen to the children. Vivian Gussin Paley spent her career listening to the children in her Kindergarten classes for over 30 years. She said, “I saw myself as the bestower of place and belonging, of custom and curriculum, too often ignoring the delicate web being constructed by the children in their constant exchange of ideas the moment I stopped talking and they resumed playing.”