Teachers (adults) should remember childhood, a once in a lifetime chance to explore, make sense of the close world and be introduced to broader themes, adding to the sum of personal knowledge, while developing an ever broadening set of skills which permit this to be accomplished with independence.
Learning is taking on challenge, solving problems, seeking answers to own questions, using all available resources, human, literary or digital. Developing ever sophisticated communication skills to share outcomes.
Others walk alongside, supporting, guiding, leading, joining in and picking them up when they fall. Subtle and gentle, sometimes directive; it’s a team game.
A case of weep, for potential lost childhoods?
I can remember my own childhood, with the aid of black and white photos, as a time of being outside, running around with friends, exploring local meadows, fishing in the River Exe, all unaccompanied by an adult.
Time in Australia, with more outdoors, all barefoot, joining in sports of all kinds, just for the enjoyment; swimming, boating, sea fishing with regular catching of sharks. Catching all kinds of exotic creepy crawlies, developing a life-long love of nature, sometimes possibly with what some might think mild cruelty, although we didn’t think that at the time- catching snakes with forked sticks or cockroach racing along the pier.
Childhood was fun and we learned by doing. We learned to be independent at an early age, resilient against the weather and how to cope with danger. We learned life skills, especially how to get along together.
Running, jumping, climbing, fishing, exploring- when do the current generation get to do that? Often indoors in leisure centres, or play areas. Organised, ordered, transported, cosseted, dry, safe and warm. All laudable, but life’s outside too, a big wide world of possibility and opportunity.
Learning is taking on challenge, solving problems, seeking answers to own questions, using all available resources, human, literary or digital. Developing ever sophisticated communication skills to share outcomes.
Others walk alongside, supporting, guiding, leading, joining in and picking them up when they fall. Subtle and gentle, sometimes directive; it’s a team game.
A case of weep, for potential lost childhoods?
I can remember my own childhood, with the aid of black and white photos, as a time of being outside, running around with friends, exploring local meadows, fishing in the River Exe, all unaccompanied by an adult.
Time in Australia, with more outdoors, all barefoot, joining in sports of all kinds, just for the enjoyment; swimming, boating, sea fishing with regular catching of sharks. Catching all kinds of exotic creepy crawlies, developing a life-long love of nature, sometimes possibly with what some might think mild cruelty, although we didn’t think that at the time- catching snakes with forked sticks or cockroach racing along the pier.
Childhood was fun and we learned by doing. We learned to be independent at an early age, resilient against the weather and how to cope with danger. We learned life skills, especially how to get along together.
Running, jumping, climbing, fishing, exploring- when do the current generation get to do that? Often indoors in leisure centres, or play areas. Organised, ordered, transported, cosseted, dry, safe and warm. All laudable, but life’s outside too, a big wide world of possibility and opportunity.
Instead of talking about childhood and how to make it the best time of their lives, we have people in authority speculating on how to make school days longer and reduce holidays. Although speculation, wedges appear to have two edges and this thin edge might just be the beginning of a bright new idea.
Perhaps there needs to be a movement to support childhood and family life?
This generation will be working long enough; let them enjoy childhood.
Perhaps there needs to be a movement to support childhood and family life?
This generation will be working long enough; let them enjoy childhood.
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