Dispositions for Life and Learning

I had a moment the other day to reflect on an old post of mine from my instagram where I talked about how sometimes just being present is the most important part of being an early educator (whether that’s as a classroom teacher or a stay at home mom). It got me thinking recently about how I spend my time with my 5 year old now- especially in the face of the pandemic and ‘lockdown’ we are facing now. It seems like there are so many hours to the day and at times I am struggling to think of how to fill those hours with meaning. These circumstances have brought up again my sneaking desire to fill the day with too many activities because it would make me feel better or I’d feel more accomplished. Activities are great and its important to provide invitations to play and to have rhythms and practices that support learning I think, but I also began to think about the value of not always filling the day with activities and the other dispositions it develops.

In early childhood education we talk about helping children develop dispositions of curiosity, questioning, joy for learning, and helping children develop identities within themselves as learners, thinkers, creators and meaning makers. So I began to re-reflect on these dispositions in such a way as to ask myself, what the value in not filling all our time each day with planned activities and here are a few of the things I can see playing out.

1. It creates space for them to see life not just as a string of time in which to accomplish, but a space for them to just BE. That they don’t have to create anything or do anything spectacular to have meaning, that they are valuable in their life just because they are who they are. And they are loved without having to perform.
2. It creates space for them to value process and not just a completed work. If I provide space and time that’s open and resist the urge to plan everything, I know X can spend time in processes of learning such as playing outside or engaging in pretend play or free building or creating. I think this reinforces his position as a meaning maker, but also communicates a value for process because even if I can’t take a neat photo after or show something for his ‘work’ doesn’t mean he isn’t creating or doing something that is valuable, creating and learning through process. And I think this is SO important because life really is a lot process.
3. It creates space for them to mature emotionally and self regulate. Because I am not directing all of the time, it gives X a chance to make decisions for himself about his wants and needs and then act on them or ask for help to meet them. Of course, he needs support in doing this so I am reminding myself to be mindful and aware and make suggestions or give choices when he is having a hard time. Other ways I facilitate this are by making sure I rotate toys and putting out choices of toys for him to choose, setting out a sensory table so he can regulate sensory wise that way, and leaving the back sliding door to our porch cracked so he can go out as needed. Without the structure of preschool each day, he is getting plenty of opportunities to make choices for himself to help meet his needs without having to just follow a schedule. Of course, we still have a flow to the day and an hour of more structured time but beyond that time, I have been able to be flexible – especially since we are limited in our ability to go out.
4. Lastly, it is challenging ME. It’s causing me to reflect within myself if these are things I really believe about life and about children and if so, a challenge for me to embody it. To give myself a break even if I can’t perfectly fill the day or accomplish all I want with X, to practice being present and valuing myself and X even if we have nothing to show for our time at the end of the day. And to be flexible and take time to regulate within myself. To engage in my own self management, to take breaks, take walks, take deep breaths and make time for play and to practice joy.

So yes, this is a hard time and its difficult without the structure and opportunities I am used to, but I am glad it has given me some time to try to see the value in all the extra time and to remember the value in developing these dispositions which I think it can be so easy to forget in our usual busy world.