Happy September, everyone! How many of you have kids going back to school this/next week? How many of have districts doing hybrid or completely remote learning for the time being? Are any of you going to opt for homeschooling for the year instead?
Today we're going to kick off a series that highlights the inequalities that this pandemic is bringing to light with regard to education, but also provides some simple ideas that should be more accessible to all (with materials you probably have at home, minimal time spent preparing, etc). As I've been reflecting on our family's situation, I'm really grateful that we can even afford for me to be a SAHM working part-time, and that our situation in that regard has been the same as pre-pandemic. I have the ability to give Silly Bean my undivided attention during the day, and we also don't have to worry about whether he is doing virtual learning or not, whether he is meeting in person or not.
But this isn't the case for everyone. For parents, single parents, people who are working full time from home and have littles at home, people who don't speak English, people who are working a job or several jobs outside the home--the whole education system in this season isn't set up for them. It makes me think about how homeschooling really is a privilege. But it shouldn't have to be, because every parent cares about giving their kids the best education, giving them the attention they need, but our current system doesn't necessarily make that possible.
There are still others who aren't in this boat but are still wondering what to do to fill the hours when their kid (or multiple kids) aren't doing remote learning since the virtual school day is "shorter" than if they had been in school. If you fall into either of these groups, or anywhere in between, this series is for you! We want to share some easy peasy low-prep activites you can do with your toddlers/preschoolers!
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One of my favorite memories growing up is lying in bed with my mom and making up little stories together before going to sleep. We would tell them orally and unfortunately I don't remember any of them, but what I do remember is that magical feeling of painting a world with our words for our characters and co-creating it with my mom. It was probably then that I knew I wanted to be a writer.
For one of my early childhood education classes, we read a book called "Talking, Drawing, Writing," which is about how storytelling, or basically talking, is essential to children learning to write later on beyond kindergarten.
Foremost, though, is valuing the child through storytelling: "Because inviting children to talk about themselves and about what they know honors who they are. They don't need a picture. They don't even need to know how to write letters. They don't need a spectacular event to share. They are valued for themselves, for using the words they have to say what they know." (p. 15) In these times with our kids at home, storytelling can give us an opportunity to affirm our children for who they are and the things they understand (or think they understand!) about the world, and to build relationship. It doesn't take any prep, really--only a listening ear, some open ended questions, and some affirmation! You don't even need to write anything down--just take a few minutes to really be present with your toddler/preschooler!
Silly Bean and I have been enjoying telling little stories about his stuffed animals (his Elmo in particular, who he calls "Mo Baby"), and it's been really fun. Similar to pretend play, I see how Silly Bean is processing the world around him and his understanding of how things work. We don't usually record many of the stories because he is still young and I don't want Silly Bean to focus too much on product, just the process, but here is a story we captured in writing and drawing so that we could read it over and over again, and so Silly Bean could feel proud about his story and be encouraged to create many more!
And of course, read tons with your kid! I understand that may also be cause for access issues if you're in a town where your library isn't currently open... in which case, tell your kid tons of stories! Make up stories about their favorite stuffed animal or character. Tell your kids stories of when you were their age. Anything--the sky's the limit :D
Just for fun, here's a picture just for fun of Silly Bean in me in our once-nursing-chair-now-reading-and-storytelling-chair! Silly Bean thought it was hysterical that his legs were hidden and my legs look like they belong to him in this photo ;P
What stories does your child enjoy? What stories do you like telling your kids? Would love to hear!
Bibliography:
Horn, Martha and Mary Ellen Giacobbe. Talking, Writing, Drawing: Lessons from Our Youngest Writers. Stenhouse Publishers, 2007.
