Dear readers
I’d like to share with you some of my thoughts on being a preschool teacher.
TIME, INNOVATION and HUMOUR – the three key elements of working with children. I’ve found out that these three can really ‘save your sanity’ and miraculously solve almost any difficult situation. Ok, ok…..I must admit…it’s a challenge to have ALL three at hand when needed
So here is a little story from our preschool. A year ago or so, the group seemed to be reckless, there was a lot of arguments, shouting, crying etc. It must have been full moon (see, I like to blame the full moon for these sorts of occasions).
Well, I had an idea that saved the morning. We played ‘cleaning company’. Here is what you need but REALLY, REALLY, ABSOLUTELY NECESSARLY need – a mobile phone, if not real one, at least looking like a really one , aprons, buckets WITH water otherwise it’s too much pretending, some clothes and readiness to clean up afterwards. LOL
So, first I called ‘the company’ and we had a very much business like conversation. Settling price (ranging 7 to 1,2,4 CHF) and arranging the time. The kids went out, rang the bell and I showed them around my ‘messy flat’ and begged them to help me. They shook their head, made worried noises but off they went. They cleaned and cleaned and cleaned until they were ready for another round. We must have played more then one hour, by the time they were exhausted and we were ready for some quieter activity like reading a book.
We all had a lot of fun, the kids were occupied and they learnt many new skills – cooperation, organization and social skills – luckily for me they didn’t get tired of the game like in a story called ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ I’ve recently read in a book called How to talk so kids will listen & listen so kids will talk. Here is the story, hope to make you smile
‘I wanted all the trains and tracks cleared out of the den, so I walked into my son’s room and pretended to call him on the phone. Ring. Ring.
He pretended to pick it up and said:’ Hello.’
I said, ‘ Is this the Reilly Construction Company? I have this big job of removing some heavy trains and tracks to another location and I heard your company was the best.’
He came and picked everything up. I tried it a second time and it worked again. Then one day I rang him up and asked, ‘Is this Reilly Construction?’
My son answered, ‘He’s out of business.’
All the best,
Lucie, Group Leader Pre- n’ Playschool