Allowing Time for Mastery

On my facebook page recently I added a link that showed a day in the life of a Waldorf/Steiner preschool. One of the things they talked about is allowing time for children to understand and master a story.

This carries a strong resonance with me - particularly with art projects.

Firstly, I believe it is vital to provide the children with artist quality materials. If you provide the children with cheap materials you will find the children tend not to respect the materials, they will not be able to create high quality artworks and often you don't save money as the materials do not last.

Secondly, I believe that the children need to be provide the same (or similar) art experiences on a regular basis. Through this the children develop skills and knowledge of the materials - leading to more complex and insightful work. This does not necessarily mean every day - though i think a writing /drawing table should be out every day.

I have been putting this believe in practice over the last month at my centre - and the beautiful artworks that the children creating are a great reassurance in this philosophy (i will post some tonight when i download my photos).

In addition, on the curriculum front, one of my prac supervisors once told me that the creation of beautiful artworks by a child (especially one where they invest a lot of time in creating it) is a incredible example of the spiritual child and their understanding of beauty in the world

Throwing Cameras - high expectations dashed

I learnt the hard way yesterday that having high expectations of the children does not always work out.

For the last month, for at least a few hours during the day the children have successfully borrowed and used my camera. This has led to some absolutely beautiful shots and it is incredible to watch a 2 year old successfully aim and take a photo.

Primarily it has been my preschoolers that have had the camera.

Unfortunately in a moment of exuberance yesterday my camera got broken - I didn't see exactly what happened but the reports from the children was that it got thrown across the room!. This is from the same children who have been incredibly careful with my camera for all of January.

But it wasn't so much the shock that the child had thrown my camera but her reaction that worried me the most -  she poked her tongue out at me! I did get a sorry but only after I suggested that that might be a good place to start.

Some of the children offered to buy me a new camera for my birthday - but as i pointed out to them i don't think they have access to that much money.

Luckily for the child my camera was already starting to die after surviving all my practicals so I was (relatively) calm. Unfortunately, it did have the impact of re-affirming with the other carers that I was being too cavalier by letting 'children' use my camera....

I have really enjoyed watching and using the shots of the children - does anyone have any suggestions  on how i can continue this without an attrition rate of a camera a month? 

Building society: Picking up Rubbish

My friend works collecting rubbish on Bondi Beach. He was telling about how the other day on the beach a small child (in front of him) dropped his lolly in the sand. The child proceeded to come up to my friend and point out the lolly to be picked up - no asking just pointing. His mother was there and watched the exchange.

This story troubles me.... what do you think?

• Should the child have asked?
• Should the child have picked it up himself?
• Was the mother reinforcing that some people in life will be there to pick up her child's rubbish all time time?
• What would the child do if the garbage collector wasn't working there?

Would love to hear your thoughts....