One of my favorite quotes comes from Magda Gerber. In working with young children, her advice is to "do less, observe more, enjoy most." When I take the time to really observe, I am reminded of how amazing, capable, and competent young children are.
It's fascinating to watch our younger babies play and discover on their own when we give them the time, space, and freedom of movement to do so. Floor time allows even our youngest babies a chance for some independence. By providing children with opportunities for uninterrupted,
child-led play, we send the message that we value the child and their choices.
As they get older and become mobile, it's just as fascinating watching them interact with each other, the environment, and their teachers. Our crawlers have discovered they can chase each other and play peek-a-boo around the play structure. They have been enjoying exploring shredded paper and sheets of tissue paper. Mostly, our crawlers have enjoyed taking toys from each other, passing toys back and forth, and exploring each other's faces.
Sometimes these interactions may make parents and caregivers nervous. A child
taking a toy that another was using or touching another child's face often sets off alarms for us as adults. But when we put our fears aside and trust in our children, we see that in most cases, there is not much cause for concern. In fact, if these interactions are allowed with minimal adult intervention, children learn to solve conflicts in appropriate ways.
Of course safety is a priority, so these interactions are carefully guided while teachers pay close attention to cues from both children. We "sportscast" what is happening and model gentle touches. We help them learn to recognize nonverbal cues. A teacher might say, "He's moving his body away from you. It looks like he doesn't want to be touched," while gently blocking the child's hand.
We empower children by giving them ways to tell others what is okay, even before they have the language to do so. If a child is showing stress or discomfort, we might say, "If she's too close, you can move your body away." By doing so, we give even young children the opportunity to solve their own problems.
Stepping back and observing allows me to be able to enjoy moments like these...
