Seems to be Going Well

Dear Families,

In general, our nursery children have had a great deal of fun, activity, joyful, and purposeful movement in the clearing near the teepee for the first 45 minutes of the morning--even with the rain (the trees do give shelter). Children have played imaginatively, watched Michael saw wood, and come with me as I create a new trail--the trail grows quickly, about 20 yards, and 5 children came a along and found nooks to play in around me. The children's joy and engagement reminds me of the satisfaction I derived from reading Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods in preparation for a talk last year. Copies of this book are available in the Kathrine Dickerson Memorial Library.

Each group of children is unique and responds and grows differently. As such, it is impossible for me to know if the increasing joy outside is because of the subtle shifts in rhythm, because of shifts in the children, because of the long break, or for other reasons. Whatever the reason, this outside time no longer seems--as it had for some children--something the children hope to get through so that they can play inside. It would be my ideal for children to find challenge and satisfaction in all parts of the morning, and we seem to be heading in this direction.

After our return to the playground, children are digging, playing imaginatively (five children had a boat with many voyages, fishing trips, and returns), cooking with sand, swinging, and helping Michael move wood chips under the kindergarten swings. Again, it seems the quality, engagement, and depth of the play here has increased--whether because our children are in a new place after the break or because they are no longer anxious about separation when playing at the sand and swings.

The indoor play continues to be lively, flexible, and generally cooperative--a few skirmishes over silks, but the times without conflict are far greater than the times of conflict.

Please remember that we will dismiss from outside on Wednesday, and we have no school on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde