Tom presents descriptions of attunement for discussion. We find surprising parallels between being a teacher in an early childhood classroom and being an indigenous hunter. Both require paying close attention to the environment and sensory experiences. Mike and Ross talk tuning forks and guitar strings. Like tuning instruments, attunement to children is not a fixed state that can be reached, but something that evolves and changes.

For newer listeners, you can hear how it all began:

 TWTBIM_0114 Attunement 

TWTBIM_0171 Judgement Blocks Attunement

Ross invites us to reflect on our double standards. Do we raise our voices while asking children not to yell? Sing calm down songs in a tense voice? Are there things that adults are allowed to do, but against the rules for children? When we act with intention, we can do what we say. Mike likes to draw children's block buildings. Joey joins in conversations at snack, and Tom used materials at the writing table alongside children.

There's a lot to unpack in children's small world play: security, control, power, and focus. So get out your dollhouses, figurines, and tiny capes. When we offer children the chance to scale down their play, the world can become so much bigger.

Tom leads a conversation about children using things in unintended ways, such as  climbing playground shade canopies, piling portable steps into rickety piles, and using drumsticks to fill holes. Mike sees a difference in our perception of what's intended and acceptable use of manufactured materials vs. natural materials. Joey wonders if creativity is ever problematic. Ross talks through approaches to partnering with children as they create their own challenges. Tom reminds us that children will always turn benign areas into something challenging because challenge is were joy comes from.

Ross addresses a listener question, "what is it with four year old boys?" Why is this group of children most likely to be kicked out of child care and identified by teachers as being challenging? Mike shares research about developmental shifts, bell curves, and hormone levels. If the "problem" is actually a result of typical development, perhaps we need to look to adult perceptions and lack of understanding for the solution. Tom has problems with the whole premise.

Mike kicks off a conversation about how physical games like rough and tumble play or hide and seek provide entry points to social connection--especially for children who don't share a common language. With each example shared, it becomes more and more evident that the body has a language of its own. Children are fluent in this language and much more capable at using it to connect than adults are.

(To hear the episode with Becky Klay that Mike refers to in the opening, click here.)

Joey's recent experiences with her students playing hide and seek triggers happy memories amoung the group of playing Russian Piglets, Ghost in the Graveyard and Bloody Murder. Playing with the idea of disappearance and separation can provide just the right amount of feeling scared, brave and in control. 

In a continuation of last week's conversation, there's more to discuss around empathy and perspective taking. What does it feel like to know that others perceive you as the "bad" kid? What narratives support children's flawed perspective about other people and how adults help to expand their thinking? The group gets into some thorny issues that connect our experiences in the classroom with children's experiences in the larger world.

Perspective taking and empathy are skills that often get lumped together in talking about children's development. Mike argues that they develop separately but often work together. Ross reminds us that babies (who lack perspective taking abilities) show care towards others. Joey wonders how to apply Mike's idea to recent puppy paw conflict in the classroom. Tom recalls a time when his team decided to look for empathy and kindness among the children and found an abundance of it.

The time is here to share our "Snow!" episode. 

Tom wants to talk about beautiful, wonderful snow. Children love snow and the myriad opportunities it brings. Adults need to keep their snow-related hassles to themselves and let children have the joy. The discussion includes some practical tips for sledding with young children. (Originally recorded in 2019)

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year!