It's All About Play

Not long before I left Bella Mente, my beloved preschool in West Seattle, I was presented with the opportunity to explain to someone exactly what it is that we do, as teachers at our school, in a very, brief and practical statement. It was the very first time one of our newer teachers stepped into our 4s classroom as an employee and she asked me what she should do. “Well,” I thought for a moment, “you just get in there and play.” Because that is where we do much of our teaching with our preschoolers. Yes, we do run a handful of meetings throughout the day, but the bulk of what we do as teachers to impart on our students the wisdom we wish them to carry as they grow, is through play. This is how you get to know children, you play right alongside them and most of the time, they’ll want to join your game, or want you to join theirs, or even just stand beside you or snuggle in your arms as the two of you watch the others play.

It is through play that kids get to know one another, and it is through play that we adults can find the doors into their secret worlds. If you want to understand a child, get yourself down to his/her level and ask them about their play. Ask questions, get to know them as people. Kids, even the shy ones, have so much to say and all they really want is for someone to genuinely listen to them. As a teacher, the best way to show children that they are both interesting and important, is by taking an interest in their activities and sharing in their experiences. All anyone really wants is to feel heard and be understood. Children are no different. This desire does not emerge in adolescence alongside acne and body odor, we all want to be heard, to spend time with someone who genuinely enjoys our company. So, one of the most important parts of my job as a teacher is to make a connection with each of my students, to figure out what makes them interesting and unique. I do this simply by playing.