Thanks for listening!
Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron, shopping our Amazon Link, or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here.
Click the links for more Jeff or Heather.
Author Heather Shumaker is joined by Jeff A Johnson for weekly discussions of early learning issues through a renegade lens.
Podcast (renegade-rules): Play in new window | Download (36.6MB) | Embed
Heather Shumaker writes books for children and adults. She began writing books in elementary school and is now an award-winning author of several books for adults. The Griffins of Castle Cary is her first book for children.
Before she became an author, Heather tried many jobs, including: milk maid, sailor, llama trek guide and fire crew. She also lived at the South Pole and sorted garbage and recycling in Antarctica. Heather now lives in northern Michigan with her husband and two children.
Jeff Johnson is an early learning trainer, podcaster, and author who founded Explorations Early Learning, Playvolution HQ, and Play Haven.
This is a very interesting topic and I’m glad you all went a little deeper to explore possible motivations for the “down the slide” mentality. I get it. I have upheld it. (I have a short slide safety jingle and everything).
I think that one aspect that is missing is consideration for others. If I’m in a center setting or a place that has posted play equipment rules, I will have/help the child(ren) read those rules and interpret them befor they play. That’s important to me because it is not our personal equipment and I think it’s important for children to (generally) be aware of the truth that if something does not belong to them they don’t get the final say on what to do with it.
If there are no posted rules, I will tell them to “have safe fun which means to make choices that do not intentionally harm yourself or others.” Part of that is making sure other children are WANT to be included in the way you’re playing if it affects them. Going up the slide affects kids that are coming down- and vice versa! If you see that kids are there going up then you need to FIND A WAY to go down safely. They need to FIND A WAY to go up safely. That’s me saying remember to consider others while leaving them room to figure out how.
The reason I start with teaching consideration to any children in my care is because that is a value of mine that I’d like to present to them, hoping they value the same. I believe it is useful for safety and citezenship reasons.
Also, me trying to allow ways for kids in my care to organically FIND A WAY to work through stuff is in my jurisdiction. But me trying to go into a situation thinking, “The kids and grown-ups alike shall learn that my way of thinking is better than theirs” feels presumptuous and unfair to me. I do agree that it’s a great conversation to have though for the reasons you all mentioned. Great talk!
P.S.
If a kid (in or out of my care) does something to ME that I’m not okay with, I tell that child as much. I don’t mind modeling that because…cut it out. I have never had a problem with that, much to the chagrin of many a parent/teacher. We can discuss it but I imagine they get on board or over it. Too much?
Leave a Reply to Rachelle Banks Cancel reply