You won’t find
this in any curriculum guide or state standards, but I believe one of our most
important jobs as early childhood educators is to give children hopes and
dreams. Someone has to believe in
them!
My friend’s
granddaughter has been going through a difficult time. Children reflect what goes on in the
home, and her parents are going through a nasty divorce. Anyway, when my friend picked the
little girl up from school the child looked so sad. My friend said, “One day when you are sixteen we are going
to go to Paris and buy us some pretty shoes and pretty dresses!” She said the little girl smiled and her
eyes danced. I don’t know why that
touched me so, but it did. A
little word of encouragement can change the world of a child!
It's Sunday and we are grateful that Irene passed by Charleston. Our grandson K.J. was lucky to get on a plane Friday before the storm hit and we are LOVING having him spend the week before school starts with us. And his mother is happy not to be cooped up in the house with him as they weather the storm in DC!
You know, I try not to be too political in my blogs, but since it's Sunday I want to share this idea. You could only use this parting if you were in a Christian school, but it's so sweet!
Parting Words before Children Walk out the Door
Teacher: May the Lord watch between me and thee.
Children: While we are absent one from another.
Blessings of JOY to all of you and prayers for those in Irene's path!
I agree Dr. Jean. It reminds me of something Oprah Winfrey said stuck with her as a young girl that made her feel pretty. She said that a white women of some social standing in her small Mississippi town came to visit her family or school (can't quite remember which) and looked at her and said, "Why you are as pretty as a speckled pup!" That woman may not have meant it as a compliment, but the way in which she said it and the fact that she touched Oprah's cheek and said it, made the little girl in Oprah feel pretty! Words are so important to little children and build their aspirations and inspirations!
ReplyDeletewhen I was 5, my grandmother bought me a second-hand poster of the Eiffel Tower at a garage sale for a quarter. From an early age, I was in love with the fact that the world was so big, and a passion for it was lit. She promised me that when I graduated High School she would take me to see Paris. In her kitchen, I counted the years on my fingers and, in 1989, 2003 sounded like light years away.
ReplyDeleteWe went for 10 days, just my grandmother and I. Just 18, I likely didn't appreciate it as much then as I do appreciate the memories now just a few years removed; it gave me a dream and something to look forward to, and also sparked a passion for learning and serving in a way I know I could have never imagined or ordained. Now, I teach kindergarten, and I tell me sweet ones about hopes and dreams and how things that they dream about now, as they are only 5 and still so little, will one day come true if they hold tight to them! :)