"The relationships you have with them now will be the relationships you have with them forever."
"Mrs. Schmidt! Mrs. Schmidt, guess what? I went to the beach and I was in the water and my sister was there--well, she was, like, up by my mom but they were eating watermelon. I don't really like watermelon. But my sister had some and it got red all over her face {giggle, giggle, giggle} but mommy wasn't happy and, okay, anyway, there was a BIIIGGG wave and I tried to jump and daddy was up above and had to--OH MY GOSH {giggle, giggle} he pulled me up and I couldn't see and it was like, I was blind? I don't know it hurt my eyes and I had to go get a towel. But did you know my towel has Hello Kitty on it? Yeah. It's pinkkkk and has like, little, ummmm....spots orrrr {gasp!} POLKA DOTS! I really love it. My sister has a different one though but um anyway..."
This is how every. morning. in my classroom starts. It was no different this week coming back from Spring Break. All 17 bright, shiny tiny faces were bursting with stories about seeing snow, going to the beach, playing with cousins, theme parks, seeing new movies, and, my personal favorite, the visit to the American Girl doll store.
Their stories were all scattered--not the most fluent, or enthralling stories. I heard fragmented bits of their vacations. Favorite part of the plane ride? "We got to watch TV!" Favorite part of the visit to the Statue of Liberty? "We were inside her head!" They definitely have an interesting perspective on life.
As I began to drown out the vacation stories to consider my lesson plans for the day, send my attendance, find the paint brushes for our morning project, I heard a tiny voice asking, "Can we?" I snapped back to attention and had to ask my student to repeat herself.
With a puzzled look on her face, she said it again, "Can we play with the kitchen?" asked the tiny girl. "Yes, kitchen is open," I replied, and she scurried off to create new worlds of wonder in our play kitchen.
Just then, a phrase my mom had taught me rang in my head. "The relationships you have with them now are the same relationships you will have with them forever."
It is so easy to not pay attention. The continuous recounts of the movie Frozen; the stories that seem part made up about puppies, kittens, hot air balloons! They mean seemingly nothing. Nothing at all. However, if we don't listen to them now, when will we start listening to them? Will it be too late?
Tinies are constantly learning. Especially through the preschool years, they are paying attention to everything. They are learning how the world works. These years are crucial. Their worldview is being shaped and molded.
And guess what, if mom and dad don't listen now, it won't be worth even telling them later.
No doubt, sometimes it is a plastic smile, and some mindless nodding and "ooh-ing and ahh-ing," but next time your tiny dances into the room with a big smile ready to tell you about her day, don't send her away. Listen. React. Ask questions.
Based on your response now, your tiny will decide to continue telling you every part of his day--or not. As they grow, and problems get bigger, you want them to be able to come to you. And even though listening to the story about being put in time out at school today doesn't have anything to do with the issues in their preteen and high school years, your reaction to their stories is what they will remember.
Awesome article!
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