When is the last time you let a child teach you? Or rather, listen to what the child wanted to tell you? Have you ever thought about the connections that are made in their developing brain? Have you ever thought about the different colours that they think in? Have you ever wondered about the different ways in which they are able to reach out and make you want to understand? The reason I ask you these things is because I let that happen to me. Let me tell you all about it.
It was like any other day. I was meant to teach the buzzing bees an easy way to remember the tables of 4. I looked at my group. A bunch of seven- nine year olds who were ready for a little change. Chance, that I found one of my children who knew this pattern very well. What if she could teach her peers? I took her aside, whispered in her ear and she eagerly nodded.
I got their attention by just saying that their friend will be teaching them today. They were a little stunned and one of them asked me if I was also going to be a part of class. “Of course,”, I replied. I found a book and sat down on a chair and tuned my ears to the “teacher” of the day. The child started off by telling them about a monster that ate all the numbers they had just written down. I watched them with fascination and saw how they reached out with questions. One of them also mentioned that it was so quiet. There were no voices raised. The child really was patient with her friends. She made sure she walked around to every seat, checked to see if everyone was following her and also simultaneously learning something new.
When the class finished, I was taken aback. There had been silence all around. No one was distracted. Everyone was focused towards the direction of just one voice. There was no room for a strict voice. The class ran overtime and inspite of this there were no complaining about how long it took. No one brought up writing the times table twice in their book. It felt calming and freeing at one point. I also realised something: I figured out the difference between listening and hearing a child. I also found a calm way to deal with children who are not particularly interested, rather than going behind them to make sure they have paid attention. I also felt like a little child back then: eager to wonder about the monster who ate up the numbers; wondering how the numbers would make an easier pattern; thinking back to my school years, wishing I could be taught this pattern.
There is so much you can learn from watching a child. You can learn empathetic and curious connections. You can have fun while learning. You can let your imagination soar and wonder ‘what kind of monster would eat numbers?’. You can allow your neurons to fire and have your ‘OMG’ moment when you figure out the pattern. You can let your mind wander to ridiculous and nonsensical scenarios and write your own stories. You can allow yourself to be a child; to be little; to be curious, wild and free.
At Papagoya, the child is given the opportunity to remain a child as well as challenge their complexity of thought. Each child is reminded that there is joy in learning through play and also embraces the opportunities given through autonomy in learning. A space is created for thought, play and learning that intertwines all three. This creates a space for life long learners that question the world and engage creativity and curiosity.
Abigail is a passionate educator working with an enthusiastic bunch of 7–9 year olds. She’s passionate about writing fiction, sketching silhouettes and reading books. She believes that playful learning is important for the overall development of the child. It is a powerful educational process that builds the self. Play ensures imagination and cognitive development.