We have had an extremely late and extended Summer here in Southern California. Our yard and garden has continued to grow and produce steadily all through December. Now, finally, flowers are fading, the last of the garden produce is being harvested, and there is a blanket of leaves carpeting the front yard. My husband looks to raking the leaves as a duty and a chore- and for an adult it is. However, for our 3, 4, and 5 year old preschoolers it is a heaven-sent opportunity for learning and development! You see, adults problem-solve to find the most efficient means of completing their work and projects. Children approach work in a much different perspective. They approach it as an exploration, game, and/or an adventure! Raking leaves can become a natural science experiment or a physical engineering challenge to see who can build the largest mound. It may simply be the joy of exercising those large gross motor muscles as they those long strokes with the rakes and manipulate them to pile up the leaves. I can also be a social learning experience as they traverse through interpersonal relationships while learning to share tools, materials, and space.
As adults, we want to hurry to get the job done so we can go on to other, more “relaxing” endeavors. But, for children, there is joy in the journey- and this means allowing time- something children have a lot of! Perhaps in another article we can discuss the difference in time perspectives between children and adults. Suffice it to say for today, adults can relearn to slow down and be in the moment because, after all, we were once children, too.
Until next week,
Lorraine
