The word ‘silly’ derives from the Greek ‘selig’ meaning ‘blessed.’ There is something sacred in being able to be silly.
– Paul Pearsall

Sure, today is April Fool’s Day, but what does that “sort-of” holiday have to do with young children? Perhaps not a lot, except maybe the playful nature of the day could be a reminder to bring that same playful spirit into interactions with children. In fact, author Robyn Sotak highly recommends it.

In an article that forms the basis of an Exchange Reflections, “Connecting Playfully With Children,” Sotak tells the story of how her preschool class playfully teased her about her cat allergy by pretending everything was cat-related. She reflects on how cultivating a mutually playful environment helped deeply engage students intellectually, while building stronger, more trusting relationships.

The Reflections, based on Sotak’s experiences, invites groups to talk together about their philosophy of teacher-child playfulness. What feels appropriate and what doesn’t? What are many ways children and adults could be encouraged to become more playful with each other?

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, here’s a brief history of how April Fool’s Day came to be, according to an article on the Rutgers University website:

What are the origins of April Fools’ Day?
The story goes back to the 1500s in France when the Julian calendar (established by Julius Caesar) was replaced with the Gregorian calendar (introduced by Pope Gregory XIII and still used in most parts of the world). In the old Julian calendar, the new year began on April 1, but with the new Gregorian calendar, the new year was set to begin on January 1.

News did not always travel fast in those days so not everyone got the word that the start of the New Year changed to January 1. They kept celebrating it on April 1, and they were widely mocked as April Fools.

How did this turn into a day of practical jokes?
The practice of telling April Fools’ jokes spread rapidly, and it has continued over the last 500 years or so. These jokes work best on people who have not been paying attention to the calendar. Playing a joke on someone, you want to get to them early in the morning before they realize what day it is.