The grandkids were playing with the laundry chute and now Tom is thinking about how much children like to drop things as part of their play. Is it a need? Should adults to create opportunities to experiment with dropping things or is it better for children to invent their own games? Mike has fond memories of his childhood laundry chute. Joey recalls joyful flower petal tossing games. Ross declares that he's all in for team gravity.

Mike would like to broaden the definition of play and what it means to participate in it. Something is going on even when children "just watch" others at play. Tom reminds us that watching sports can be a fairly active pursuit. Ross remembers a highly engaged observer of wrestling play in his classroom. Joey wonders when concern is warranted if children only observe and never join in. Mike teaches us S-O-U-L.

Ross wonders who has to participate. Do children have to join in to be considered part of the group? Mike remembers the stress he felt as a child when he was pressured to participate in activities.  Tom reminds us to take the child's point of view. Ross shares an aha moment from his early teaching days.

We'll be back soon with fresh conversations. Until then, enjoy this cute little episode. 

Is cute a meaningful attribute in creating environments for children? Is it how we would like to be described as professionals?

Back to school is a busy time of year! Enjoy this encore conversation while we get on top of it all. 

Mike reminds us of the useful metaphor of serve and return. Children initiate interaction--verbally and non-verbally--in the hopes that we will reciprocate. Joey shares a recent example of returning a child's serve. Tom admires the complexity of it all. Ross cautions us not to miss the moments when children are serving up the chance to connect with them, even if (especially if) they are still learning how to play.

Mike takes us on a deep dive into the uncomfortable feelings that princess play can evoke. Do we want girls to play out scenarios of waiting for a man to save them? Joey wonders if it's similar to gun play in that children are just playing out what they have learned about the "rules" of society. If we see problems, should we work for change in our adult world rather than put our expectations on children? Tom reminds us that princess play, like all play, offers valuable insight into children's thinking.

In looking through his photo archives, Tom has noticed how much time children spend on the floor. Should we think about the floor as a place to play? Joey points out that some materials are just easier to use on the floor--they'll wind up there anyway. Mike reminds us how much easier it is for children to anchor themselves on the floor which allows for more focus on their chosen task. What about adults? Should we be sharing this physical and emotional space alongside the children?

When all the blocks are locked up behind the dragon's wall, do you make him share? Ross has been thinking about how adults can help children want to share. Tom thinks that we are not careful enough in how we use the term "sharing." Mike reminds us of Fred Rogers' wisdom: "There's a world of difference between insisting on someone's doing something and establishing an atmosphere in which that person can grow into wanting to do it." (Recorded December 2019)

Mike's original reference to attunement. When teachers are skilled at attunement, children feel understood, seen, and heard. Ross points out that it takes time and effort to be in tune. Tom and Joey share experiences where teachers have been "out of tune" with children. Mike posits that noticing disharmony is one of the first steps to attunement. Who doesn't love a musical metaphor? (Recorded November 2019)

Joey wants to talk about how the artificial constraints of environments and schedules restrict children's ability to meet their needs in any given moment. Tom describes a special type of "flow" that occurs when we give children time in spaces that support a wide range of interests, energy levels, and physical needs. Mike points out how we often use the phrase, "but in the real world," to justify the limits we place on children. What if we offered them a more "real world" environment instead?