I have been thinking about a good subject for this blog for quite a while now. After observing the children in my care over several weeks, I noticed all the acts of kindness they showed not only each other but also the adults in their lives.
I wanted a good photo to go with my story, which further delayed my blog entry. I love photography but I love interacting with the children more. To me, taking pictures removes me from the dialogue and instead of being an active participant I become a bystander, a recorder of fleeting history, an important job for someone but not my first priority.
Although knowing better, I waited for my perfect photo opportunity, which of course never came. I found myself with even more time to think about the topic of kindness, and I came to this conclusion:
Kindness comes to children naturally, but it has to be practiced to last a life time, even into adulthood and until the day we die.
Children take words at face value. When words and actions do not correspond, children do what you do and not what you tell them to do.
It is a very important part we adults play as role models not only for our own children but for children everywhere. A child learns by observing and then copying, over and over again.
We adults need to keep that in mind in our daily lives. Children are always listening and watching us. This is how children are made. It is pretty ingenious really, as long as we adults remember our roles of being kind ourselves, and not just towards children but towards other adults as well.
Having worked with 2 and 3-year-olds for over 15 years I have come to understanding that these young children have taught me so much more about life and about myself than I could ever have imagined! If I can be kind like a 2 or 3-year-old child, honestly and wholeheartedly, I am doing well.
Kindness is a work in progress, let’s keep on practicing.
– Miss Maria, lead teacher for the 2-year-old classes.
Miss Amy's Blog 