Community walking tours

As an extension of our community study, the children have begun walking journeys through the neighborhood.  Before we left the children and I talked about why we were heading out... to see what we might see, hear what we might hear, smell what we might smell and meet whom we might meet.  In anticipation of socializing with some of our neighbors the children practiced their gracious "Hello's" and "Good Morning's".

We encountered so much beauty along the way and I was gently reminded to slow down and really look at the familiar with new eyes.  Together we discovered dew drops, a bee caught in a web, flowers, mint, interesting shadows, bird songs, waterfalls and cracks in the side walks.  

On the way back, one of the children remarked, "Angelina we saw people but most of them didn't look at us or were talking on the phone.  We didn't get to say 'Hello'."

Of course they were right.  Once again the children had noticed what is obvious and easily overlooked in our hurried rush to get from place to place.  We have become a culture so busy on phones and with schedules, that we often overlook the everyday opportunities to engage with the people around us, to build community and exchange daily niceties.  

The children reminded me to put my cell phone away, smile at the one another, notice the flowers and greet a few strangers.  Care to join us?