The Parents Aren't the Problem
Parents embrace the play. They also question. They wonder. They also disagree. They worry. They want more information. Oh my goodness, it is as if they CARE about what is going on with their children. And isn't that what I do as well?
The Thing That Will Last
The last day of school. Their hearts are full of what they know and their strides are long. They are filled with the news of the world because they know every inch of their own world. They hold and hold and then off they go.
The Role of Destruction in Play
Adults are not usually keen on the destruction aspect of play and I don't think it is just about the preciousness of materials. It is about the conflict that arises when I wreck something of yours or you wreck something of mine.
Sense of Place
The "Blue House at the Edge of the Forest" site was not selected because it featured opportunities for nature study. It held no plans for literacy, math, or science activities. It was not a classroom moved outside into the forest and yet it is very much in line with what we do every day at our school. The school is designed around destinations and the forest site was chosen because it offered multiple zones for play, because play is what we are after!
On Being...Scared
Using the book as a guide, we can also see that simply acknowledging the fear and giving it room to breath would serve the scared child better than dismissing the fear with false reassurances. Try this on instead..."You are afraid. What information, tools, and materials will you need to build your wagon that will take you to the starry sky?" Or even better, "I will sit with you and this fear. Tell me more about it."