The moment the preschool door opens, a wave of noise floods in. There is a scrap of chairs, children gasping, and laughter in the room. It can be very disorganized at times, but that is the beat of preschool. A child can wander around with half an eaten cookie in his hand and say, I saved it. The cookie is forgotten in a shelf two minutes later. Priorities are very dynamic at this age. Farewells may be emotional. One child cries as if the world ended, another barely glances back. These responses don’t indicate how the day will unfold. Within minutes, play begins and the room settles.
Within the classroom, the classroom is a mission on its own. http://www.myspanishvillage.com Some build towers, others care for dolls, and some organize cars messily. It may not look like learning, but lessons happen everywhere. Kids shout words suddenly: “Look! I did it!” There could have been no such sentence yesterday. The words bounce around the classroom today. Language spreads fast, everywhere, like unstoppable weeds.
Disagreements appear often. A familiar phrase is, “That’s mine!” Teachers don’t immediately solve every dispute. Rather they stop and say, What can you do? Kids negotiate, reason, or try sharing. Occasionally, they act kindly, unexpectedly. Sometimes they react with defiance. Both those endings have lessons to learn. Projects in art are also unpredictable. A sheet of green scribbles may represent a dinosaur forest. It is a part of the imagination of the child, which the adult will not perceive.
Daily routines bring security. Play first, snack then storytime. Knowing what comes next gives children comfort. The state of independence builds silently. A child washes hands without spilling. Another packs a slightly messy backpack but feels proud. Growth doesn’t require being perfect.
Educators play multiple roles. They lace shoes, cry into a hysterics, read books in dramatic tones, and play the role of mentors. Parents may ask, “Can my child count?” Sometimes, “Do they recognize letters?” Such abilities develop gradually. The actual progress is more difficult to gauge children who take a turn, ask nicely, or volunteer to assist a friend. These events are more important than work sheets.
Friendships in preschool can be intense and changeable. “Best friends forever!” can quickly change to “I’m not playing with you!” then back to laughter. Children reset quickly and grasp feelings more than adults often do. Outdoor play reshapes the day. A stick becomes a sword. Leaves become treasures. Mundane things ignite fantasy and happiness.
Kids recount their day during pick-up: “I made a tower, I fell, I helped.” The most important of them is the final one- it demonstrates that they are also learning to observe other people and to care about them.
Preschool isn't neat. It is clamorous, haphazard and full of experimentation. Nevertheless, children grow constantly, sometimes subtly, sometimes quickly. Soon, a once hesitant child walks in confidently, joining the chaos and ready to play.