Prioritizing Connection

The studio hums with children busy at work.  They’ve completed paintings of their favorite animals and are busy building an elaborate city of blocks.  Building the city leads to an excited conversation about their latest big idea, a diorama. After some preliminary discussion they include me in the conversation. “You know what a diorama is Angelina, right?  It’s something you can only make in first grade.” Another child remarks, “Yeah my brother made one of those!!!”  I respond, “You don’t have to wait until the first grade, we can make a diorama anytime.”  The children chorus, “Let’s make dioramas!” and eagerly begin discussing interests. 

The speed of child dialog is dizzying and certainly not limited to the Studio. It is ever-present on the playground as they engage in imaginative play of all sorts.  In the classroom, they bring their work to each other and their teachers.  “Look, Angelina.  I wrote an ‘a’, see right here, that’s an ‘a’”.  Why all the conversation? Do they need praise?  Is this a product of the pandemic?   For a while, I’m baffled as I try to understand what might be going on.  Eventually I remember to pay attention and trust the children.  

The past two years have caught us up in a rush of doing and pushing in an attempt to find our way back to ‘normal’.   COVID and our responses to it have changed the face of our communities, schools and society.  Every day, our classrooms have a revolving door of students as families adapt to COVID cases and exposures.  The strain of constantly pivoting to keep ourselves and each other safe has us all feeling out-of-sorts, off balance, and disconnected.  As adults, this is difficult enough.  Unfortunately, the impact doesn’t stop with us.

Our children, adolescents, and young adults are experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis.  The US Surgeon General recently issued a health advisory to say that young people in this country have experienced a 40% increase in feelings of sadness and hopelessness compared to ten years ago.  This isn’t something new.  A mental health epidemic had been identified before 2020.  Unfortunately, it has not improved!  Depression rates among young people have doubled in the past two years.  Pediatric psych units are at capacity. The entire mental health system is stretched beyond its reach.  

While the pandemic isn’t our norm, it is the norm for many of the youngest members of our community.  Here at Children’s Garden, our oldest students have been in the pandemic for half of their lives. We mustn’t overlook that.  The children will always remind us what is important.  As they reach out with their constant chatter and demands for attention, they are seeking connection.  They are building relationships.  Relationships with their teachers, with one another, with families, with everything. Of course a pandemic has had a very real effect on all of us and I know there is a concern about academic preparedness nationwide. But if we think the children are falling behind and rush past their fundamental need for social and emotional development we do the children a big disservice. This isn’t business as usual.  Not for any of us. And if learning is expected to continue as planned we will miss some essential childhood needs.  

The Harvard Grant study, published in 2017, revealed that healthy relationships are more important predictors of longevity and well being over time than exercise, genetics and diet combined. We know social connection is a powerful buffer to stress and a source of wellbeing, for children and adults.  All too often, in our fast-paced lives, quality time with people gets crowded out. Our children need time to reconnect, collaborate, play, chat, wander, make meaningful mischief, mess about and discover.  Prioritizing relationships, child to child, adult to child and even modeling healthy adult to adult relationships, IS the best proven way to promote mental health into adulthood. 

This brings us to the importance of social emotional development and relationship building amongst the children in our care.  We must tailor their education to meet these new needs.    Of course we will always ensure that your children are getting a well rounded and deeply meaningful learning experience.  That is what our little school is known for.  And as we continue to respond to the needs of children, it is more important than ever to allow the children ample opportunities to practice building relationships and hone emerging social and emotional skills.  

I have many ideas about how we can work together to help our children build healthy relationships AND I am eager to hear some of yours.  On January 27 at 6PM MST, you are invited to join me, and Bekke Howell, Head of School, in an open discussion.  We will share what the teachers do at school and ideas for what parents might do outside of school to support social/emotional development in the weeks and years ahead.  And as always we welcome your voice to further the conversation.

I look forward to seeing you there!  

Your Studio Teacher, 

Angelina

Stone Soup, Grandparents/Special Friends Day and Gratitude

What a full week I have to share with you!  A week overflowing with collaborations and celebrations!

First off, our executive director and resident story teller extraordinaire, Bekke, told the story of Stone Soup to the children.  If you don't know the story there are lots of online resources but none compares to Bekke's (she put a Lakota Sioux spin on hers, weaving native traditions into the traditionally European tale).  Here is a  link to a simple one I found this morning.  Stone soup is a perfect story for Thanksgiving too!  (In case you get inspired to share).

The children were so captivated by the story that they asked to make stone soup in the studio.  Not yet having any ingredients to offer, I asked how they might make it with the materials available.

In a blink the children collected supplies and set to work, drawing, coloring and cutting their contributions before adding them to the soup.

On Thursday we made the real thing.  The children carefully cut all the vegetables into small, bite sized pieces to share with their loved ones on Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

Rhiannon joined me to make dozens of delicious gluten-free corn muffins to add to the festivities.

And BJ spent a day with me, stringing sliced fruits to make garlands that will dry and adorn the studio in the months ahead.

 On Friday we set the bounty on display and opened our doors to greet family and friends.

The atmosphere was enthusiastic!
Throughout the day the children and their friends wrote their gratitudes on brown paper to be added to the Love Tree and dished up their culinary creations.

It was certainly a week to be grateful for!
I am wishing you a wonderful holiday filled with gratitude and thanksgiving, may your days be lit with wonder and your moments bright with curiosity.
See you in December!

Here's a little clip of Bekke's story to get a taste of the tale:

The Love Tree

Our tree is taking shape, thanks to all the children who have added papier mache' to its emerging bark.  We had to really rub the gluey paper onto the trunk in order to smooth it down and get it to adhere properly.  As we did a few children said, "We love you tree!" as they lovingly rubbed the bark.  This action took off and soon most of the children could be heard loving the tree into life.

When we were done I asked, "What should we call our tree?" and they suggested "Love Tree."  So that is what it has become, our very own love tree. Several of your children have become young tree huggers in their own right.

Today the teachers and I talked about the tree study and where we might go from here.  They had so many fabulous ideas, most of which I would never have considered on my own.  Ahhh the power of collaboration! I can hardly wait to share these inspirations with you and the children in the months ahead.
If you are a parent at our school come on by to see our resident tree and if you'd like to share your love of trees with the world, there will be lots of opportunities ahead!  PLEASE contact me and we will make something happen.
Enjoy your weekend and say hello to your neighborhood trees!

Stone Soup, Pumpkin Bread and Sharing

We just celebrated Grandparents day and it was a huge success.  Let me tell you a little about the food the children made for the occasion. 

First, I joined the class at circle time to tell a story about a hidden forest where animals don't talk to each other, nor play together, nor really know one another at all.  An insightful dragonfly who happened upon this lonely wood had the brilliant idea of making stone soup.  He brought out a large pot with a flourish and he placed a stone and some water inside before placing it over a flame to cook.  Soon one indignant animal after another stepped out from their hiding places in the woods to say that stones and water weren't sufficient ingredients to make a soup and so they each added a new ingredient to the pot.  When they were done they had a delicious soup filled with shared ingredients.  

A great little reminder about the power of sharing.  Inspired by the story we decided to make stone soup for our grandparents.  I brought the stones and the pot and asked each child to choose a vegetable on their way into studio.  The children did their part washing and cutting every vegetable that became the soup.

Stone Soup

Cut up some garlic, onions, carrots, celery, snow peas and tomatoes.  Add to a pot with one stone (optional).  Add a bag of split peas.  Cover with water and cook in a crockpot on low overnight.  The next morning stir in salt and pepper to taste and some cumin.

Serve and Enjoy.

BJ joined the children and made The Best Pumpkin Loaf Ever (Gluten Free and Better than Starbucks).  Here's the recipe:

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 t. vanilla

3/4 cup pumpkin puree

1/4 cup apple sauce

1/3 cup vegetable oil

11/2 cup gluten free flour (we used Pamelas)

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking power

1/2 t. cinnamom

1/2 t. ground ginger

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. each of nutmeg, all spic and pumpkin pie spice

Preheat oven to 350... Line 9x5 loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Beat together eggs, sugars and vanilla.

Add pumpkin, oil and beat some more.

Add dry ingredients.  Stir.

Spoon batter into lined pan.  Bake 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

 And the children were so proud to share thier Yummy creations with grandparents and friends.

It was a lovely and festive occasion.

Birdhouses in Cherry Creek

Cherry Creek Framing has partnered with Ronald McDonald house for a fundraiser and family event in the Cherry Creek North community and the theme is BIRDS and birdhouses.

 They invited our children to contribute twenty decorated birdhouses.  Of course we said YES!

The children created their designs using black sharpies and added color using liquid watercolor.  When they were finished and back in their classrooms, I sealed each house with an outdoor acrylic spray.

They were so inspired by the activity that we have decided to order some more birdhouses to hang in the trees around our school.

Each house is truly wonderful.  Their art is currently hanging in a tree at the corner of 3rd and Detroit St.

 If you can stop by to see them please do.  Also, here is some important information about the culminating event:

You can even come see and BUY the BIRDHOUSES embellished by Students and businesses!

Birdhouses will hang from Sunday 9/16- Sunday 9/23 in trees along 2nd and 3rd Avenues in Cherry Creek North

Sunday, September 23, 11-3

FUN ACTIVITIES

Face painting     Balloon Artist

Kids Mani-Pedis         Music

Bird Demonstrations

Street Fairies

Birdhouse decorating

Educational demo by the Audubon Association

Birdhouse auctions

I hope to see you there!

Ubuntu!

Ubuntu is a Nguni word from Africa that roughly translates as, “I am because you are”.  This is the essence of community but can be a bit confusing for many of us.  As you know, I began the year with a research question about the value of community and cultivating connections through the creative arts. Is it any wonder that it is also the year I learned about Ubuntu?

Imagine if you will, a group of six young children seated in a circle with me on a large studio rug.  It is morning in mid September and the final days of summer beckon with their warmth. I tell them about my plan to take walking tours of the Cherry Creek North community.  I remind them that they are some of the best teachers I know. Naturally I believe they can teach other adults too. After our chat, we agree on a few basic walking rules: 1) Share the sidewalk, 2) Wait quietly at intersections, 3) Walk two by two, holding hands and 4) Offer a friendly “Hello” when you can. Thus prepared we set out. Of course I initially thought we’d walk a few blocks but quickly discovered that our pace would limit us to one.  To the young child everything is beautiful.   Their focus isn’t yet narrowed by judgments on what is worth attending to and what isn’t.  To them the weeds are just as captivating as the flowers and the ants scurrying across the sidewalk are every bit as interesting as the destination. Children notice a world far more generous than the one we, as adults, often recognize.  They point out insects on leaves, birds singing, flowers blooming, ants parading and dogs barking.  They show me spider webs that catch the morning dew and they listen to the wind as it blows through trees, grasses and down empty streets.  When people approach us, the children scoot over to share the sidewalk, primed and ready to offer a practiced ‘Hello’.  After that first meander, a four year old boy says, “Angelina, we saw lots of people but most of them didn’t look at us or were talking on their phone.  We didn’t get to say ‘Hello’.” And he was right. Children implicitly know that connection is where it’s at, even though many of us are so busy we overlook it.  They notice things that we, as adults, simply miss.  

As often happens, in my efforts to understand community I had neglected to account for my adult perspective.  I assumed community was as lacking for children as it appeared to be wanting for many adults.  But young children are naturally interdependent. They rely on others for many of their basic needs.  They don’t organize get togethers, they see a group of children playing with a ball or in the sand and they join in. For children raised in caring families, community is everywhere.  Why?  Because needing others is fundamental.  We need them for playing and getting stuff done (let’s face it an empty sand box isn’t all that inviting). We need them to help gather food and create shelter.  We need them for hugs and laughter and conversation. When I first read the Harvard-Grant Study that suggested the secret of happiness might just be supportive, loving relationships and community, I panicked.  I didn’t really know what community meant.  I wasn’t even sure if I had one and if I didn't then how best to build one.  So I walked with the children, week after week, knowing they would show me the way.  They did. But l was slow on the uptake.  It took illness and the amazing response of this supportive and loving community to really bring the lesson home.  

Here’s what I discovered.  

Community is right where we are but we often miss it. Our adult perception is distorted by a cultural, “I’ve got this!” motto.  It’s a little bit like walking down the street and missing the everyday beauty along the way because we've got somewhere to be.  We still get to the destination but the journey isn’t nearly as much fun. I didn’t really know that I had a community until I needed one.  It didn’t just appear.  It had been there all along but I didn’t see it… I was probably on my cell phone scurrying to some destination or some-such-thing.  Thankfully the children are always there to remind us where to look.  They show us that community is everywhere when we recognize our inter-connection and build on that. I didn’t realize I had community until I could no longer honestly declare, “I’ve got this!”  Could it be that simple?  If the secret of happiness lies in our fundamental connection then are mutual need and shared support our greatest allies to living a fulfilled life?  Authentic community and thus happiness appears to hinge on the simple fact that we need one another.  Ubuntu!  I am because of you.  Thankfully the children provide a fresh perspective and with them anything is possible.  

I am grateful to the amazing children and their inspiring families who have taught me so much this year.  I am grateful to be a part of such a remarkable community! 

Ubuntu.

Come see the Artisan Center window display LIVE in Cherry Creek

Imagine....
A young child walks down the street.  He notices the cracks in the sidewalk, the sound of a bird chirping amidst the pink budded trees overhead and the drip, drop cadence of a spring snow melt.  He is used to being hurried along amidst the great current of an adult world.  He often lags behind, too full of wonder to hurry.
Looking up, he sees a familiar store window with HIS artwork on display.  He draw's his adult's eye to the window with an enthusiastic pronouncement, "I MADE THAT!" Imagine his satisfaction when he notices other adults pausing to see the window display and catch a glimpse of the world through his eyes, if only for a moment.

This has been a dream of mine for years.

I believe whole heartedly that children should be seen AND heard and much of my work is geared toward providing a platform from which they can speak... in a variety of artistic languages.

Today, Amy and I installed the children's artwork in the Artisan Center's display window, after months of preparation alongside the children. My immense gratitude goes out to the children of Children's Garden Montessori School and to the amazing creativity of  Amy Laugesen, Caity Barton and the wonderful team at the Artisan Center on 3rd and Detroit St. (just a few blocks from school) for helping to make that longtime dream a reality.

We personally invite each of you to take a walk, an amble or a scenic meander down to the Artisan Center with your child to see, first hand, a little glimpse of the world through the creative lens of the children.

Designing a window

After the children visited the artisan center they continued to develop their design plans.  This week Amy came back into the studio to create the armature for a bird and a nest in the studio.  These may be part of the window display in April.  At the very least we are experimenting with ideas.  If you get the chance to come by and add your two cents, please do.

How might we decorate the Artisan Center Display window?

The children and I are regularly visiting the display window of the Artisan Center on Third and Detroit St.  Together, we are brainstorming how we might decorate the display window in early April.

Of course birds, nests and eggs are figuring heavily in their design process.

Responding to this interest, Amy began working with them to make several large eggs using papier mache'.

Even the toddlers got in on the fun!

As our ideas come together in the weeks ahead, we will have a clearer impression of our design plan.  Stay tuned!