I don't know about you, but I get pretty emotional about beautiful connections between people... especially when these connections represent a huge shift towards acceptance of equality in our society... when those connections reflect Respect, Hope, Love, Empowerment, and Compassion! And this all got me worked up and thinking:
Children around here have been negotiating their own roles in insanely progressive (and healthy!) ways since we opened... Sometimes two girls want to be the mama; sometimes boys want to nurse the baby doll; sometimes we exclude our friends from pretend birthday parties and have to repair the hurt...
We, as the adults, intervene only in order to support each child in expressing themselves and listening to others. We don't dictate how many daddies can or should be able to live in one house. We don't imply that just because someone had something first that they should keep it forever in order for the situation to be "fair."
The children's ideas about what might work shape the solutions in their play. They get to experiment with what works and what doesn't work--for themselves and their friends. They get to experience the way it feels to share joy, sadness, frustration, and repair.
And the beauty in the resulting connections is overwhelming to me... I can't help but feel hopeful for the future...
Because what's clear when you watch this community is this: respect fosters respect, and compassion fosters compassion.
I can't help but be excited about the positive changes that will arise from this generation of children who are experiencing positive, healthy connections from the beginning... and who experience moments like the one I overheard last week:
Willa (4 yrs old) to Briana (teacher) about baby E: "Briana, is this baby a 'he' or a 'she'?"
Briana: "Well, he's still too young to decide for himself, but for now, his parents call him a 'he.'"
Willa: "Ok."
Love. this. community.
Children around here have been negotiating their own roles in insanely progressive (and healthy!) ways since we opened... Sometimes two girls want to be the mama; sometimes boys want to nurse the baby doll; sometimes we exclude our friends from pretend birthday parties and have to repair the hurt...
We, as the adults, intervene only in order to support each child in expressing themselves and listening to others. We don't dictate how many daddies can or should be able to live in one house. We don't imply that just because someone had something first that they should keep it forever in order for the situation to be "fair."
The children's ideas about what might work shape the solutions in their play. They get to experiment with what works and what doesn't work--for themselves and their friends. They get to experience the way it feels to share joy, sadness, frustration, and repair.
And the beauty in the resulting connections is overwhelming to me... I can't help but feel hopeful for the future...
Because what's clear when you watch this community is this: respect fosters respect, and compassion fosters compassion.
I can't help but be excited about the positive changes that will arise from this generation of children who are experiencing positive, healthy connections from the beginning... and who experience moments like the one I overheard last week:
Willa (4 yrs old) to Briana (teacher) about baby E: "Briana, is this baby a 'he' or a 'she'?"
Briana: "Well, he's still too young to decide for himself, but for now, his parents call him a 'he.'"
Willa: "Ok."
Love. this. community.
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