Mike wants to talk about how standards for quality often lead us to put more emphasis on the equipment in the classroom rather than the experiences of children. How important are those magna tiles and counting bears?

Ross has been thinking about when children are dysregulated and the impact it has on adults' regulation. How do we tune in to signs of stress in children? Mike notes that we often don't notice more subtle cues. The group looks for the perfect analogy to describe the process of building regulation skills in partnership with children. Joey points out that when we avoid children who are dysreglated we miss the chance to build relationship with them.

Tom wants to address the concerns of teachers who worry about keeping control if ALL the children want to try something. What if everyone climbs the sensory table after you allow that one child to do it? Are they really all going to want to do the same thing? Joey wonders if we can flip the script and imagine that good things can happen when we're wondering "what if." Ross shares the scientific formula for the density of positive vs. negative results.

In a follow up to last week's conversation, Joey reflects on the dynamic of power and control in the classroom. When is it OK for adults to take control? When are we misusing our power? Joey describes a standoff in the classroom loft. Mike shares an example of stepping in to help a child who seemed powerless in putting on their boots. We need to stay mindful of our reasons for keeping things "under control" and avoid having control itself become the goal.

Mike urges us to reflect on our actions when children are out of control and need to de-escalate. Is restraint appropriate? What if we offered comfort instead? Joey counters that sometimes being held can provide a feeling of safety. How do we make the call?Tom reflects back on his early days of teaching and feeling uncomfortable when he used restraint. An important conversation about an uneasy topic.

Ross is losing sleep after being too helpful. Did he take away a learning opportunity by attaching the wheels to a child's car? We offer help with the best of intentions, but perhaps our help sometimes undermines development. What kind of help do they need?

Tom paints a scene of children loaded up with accoutrements--binoculars, strollers, baskets loaded to the brim. What is this about? It seems like more than playing "dress up." What drives children to collect and transport so many disparate items? What emerges from this play?

In follow up to the conversation about local play, Joey has noticed that many of children's memories are local too. Moving through different locations and environments prompts children to connect with past experiences and begin to form their understanding of time. Ross wonders about the impact of restricted settings during the pandemic. Tom recalls "pig pen" hill and Mike describes the best playground ever.

Tom invites us to explore the idea that all play is local. The more local the play, the more complex it becomes. The group recalls highly "local" play related to saddles, toy washers and dryers, road construction, and prairie burns. Ross and Mike underscore the fact that highly specific play enriches diversity.

See Tom's original blog post here

So often, we forget to appreciate the process of skill building and expect children to master skills after one lesson. Joey notices that even children can have unreasonable expectations for one another. When we forget how long takes to master a task, we don't give grace for mistakes and get frustrated. What about the role of effort and motivation? The conversation reminds us to be mindful of our expectations for children and how we communicate about them.