CHILD-DIRECTED LEARNING: PROOF THAT YOU DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN CONTROL TO WIN

Sometimes I’ll fill a spot in our day with a familiar but educational activity that the kids haven’t yet mastered. Patterns are hard for them (completely normal for 3-year-olds), so I like to increase their exposure and opportunities. I pulled out the buttons and pattern mats, and B stared lacing in the most intricate way I have EVER seen her try AND be successful at it. She was focused, she was having fun, using the heck out of her fine motor skills, and still learning. Not AT ALL what I had intended, but I let her roll with it because her version still had value.

Across the table, H was stringing the buttons together and swinging them like a pendulum, which I labeled as such (never to early to introduce vocabulary), and then I taught him how to make a zip line. One goes high, one goes low, and GO!

Honestly, I loved it and thought it was a success despite the fact that their separate plans looked nothing like mine. Over the years, I’ve learned that there are times when we should follow a child’s lead and see where they take us. These are signs of what THEY want to learn, and because I allowed it, they will. Also, kids spend most of the day doing very structured activities that they get little to no choice in. Every now and again, they should be allowed a turn. Today was a success and all of us enjoyed it. In the process, I grew 🌱 a little too. Thanks, kids!