Thirteen out of Twenty

Right after worship, we have a brief morning meeting and then go out to the park. Most days we go to the playground. sometimes we incorporate a longer walk. Sometimes we play in a field. Yesterday was such a day...

A woman walked by us as we played in the field today.  As she walked further and further past us, her head did not turn away. Her gaze was steady but gentle.  She seemed interested in the play. Charmed. And perhaps a little confused by the beauty of children at play outside on a weekday winter's morning. 

Perhaps she had her own child in a preschool somewhere in Hoboken or a nanny at home. Perhaps not. Perhaps she recognized a friend's child. Perhaps she was remembering her own childhood. 

Whatever the case may be, her eyes scanned the field pleasantly until her eyes came to the children in one corner of the field.

And her jaw DROPPED. 

Her entire body slowed down, as if in a movie.

Her step slowed to the point that she eventually stood still, immobilized by what she beheld:

Children playing in the mud...

The children with boots were ankle deep. The children with shoes were dutifully huddled around the edge.  Sticks were in hand as they maneuvered ice, water and mud. Mud was splashing up onto pants and coats. Some mittens were soaking wet. Everyone was happy and fully focused on the activity at hand. 

I smiled and waved in a friendly way to her, in a way that hopefully communicated three things at once...

1. Hello, kindly neighborhood person. Good Day to you!
2. "... Are you OK?"
3. "Yes — Children playing in mud. Isn't this lovely and normal?"

My wave seemed to jolt her back into reality, and she continued on her way. 

Why am I telling you this story?

The reason, dear parents, is to thank you for supporting us in our mission to make such delightful moments of play and learning lovely and normal for children. 

Here are some pictures from today (and from Friday) and some snippets of conversation I overheard...

"Look! there is mud under the ice!!" 

"Careful not to slip!!" 

"I wonder why this stick is so stuck in the puddle, so frozen down?"

"Come on everyone! Let's see how deep this is!"

"I can reach it without getting my feet wet." 

"The pieces look like treasure!"

"They look like ice glass!"

"They look like CRYSTALS!"

< Silent scream of joy. >

"If you try so hard over and over, you can hit the trunk of the tree!" 

"I'm gonna do it!!!"

"The snow makes the ground a treasure."

"It's a surfboard!"

"No, it's a snowboard."

"No, it's a sign from off that bike over there."

"Hugs are so warm..." 

"How much more time for this?
I am planning on a lot more for adventre!" 

You have just, in pictures, witnessed the following habits that we strive to instill in children's hearts, minds, learning, and work: 

responding with wonder and awe, recognizing and appreciating beauty
celebrating and having joy, a sense of humor, affirmation
connecting and synthesizing: applying prior knowledge, connecting thoughts into a whole

creating: imagining, innovating, modeling

thinking flexibly: adapting and changing with purpose

questioning and pursuing inquiry with curiosity

persisting: learning and practicing with perseverance, tenacity, grit

self-regulating: using self-control, managing impulsivity

exploring: taking risks with boldness, willing to fail and make mistakes

using all senses and modes to gather information, communicate, represent

managing time: independently pacing actions in view of time

attending with focus and stamina

engaging fully in tasks, participating with motivation and personal investment, collaborating

That's 13 out of 20 — just in a puddle (and a dusting of snow).

Again, thanks for getting it.

Outside play, free and uninhibited, is full of learning. And the shot of fresh air and free movement primes the body and mind for optimal learning for the rest of the day.

Keep sending them in boots.

(And make sure the extra clothes are seasonally stocked.)

The 

  

end.