The best way to learn about our relationship with children, their thoughts and emotions is to ask them about it or to observe their non verbal behavior. Sometimes children can’t express their thoughts in full sentences nor the way they really feel about something but if we ask them a sufficient number of meaningful sub-questions, it will be easier for us to understand them. In the previous period, we had final workshops with parents in our kindergartens and we wanted to ask our children how everything looked from their perspective. From the archive of children’s thoughts, we share with you one boy’s thinking.
Final workshop
- How did you like the final workshop with parents?
It was nice. But I will be very sorry when we start school. It’s weird, I don’t know. Kindergarten is over, but I’m looking forward to school.
- Why will you be sorry?
Because I adore these educators of ours, I would like them to stay with us a little bit longer. I will come to visit you. I’ll get out of car to see you and play on the slide.
- What did you like the most in the final workshop?
Do I have to mention only one thing or…?
- No, as many as you like..
I loved that main part when we danced and decorated doughnuts. It was so delicious, I ate ten. I liked the most that part when we were throwing our hats in the air and drinking champagne for kids.
- Yes, one dad brought champagne for children to share. I heard it was your daddy who opened it.
Yees, daddy made it pop to the roof ! It’s hard to do it. I really liked watching my daddy popping that champagne because I wanted us all to see it. But that champagne isn’t that tasty, you know.
- How did you feel during the workshop?
I was so happy I couldn’t stop laughing. I felt wonderful and nice. And I was little nervous in front of so many moms and dads. But in the end we were all happy because we had a great time.
- Do you wish something could have been different?
Yes ! A two tier cake. No, a three tiered one!
- What was the most important for you at the workshop?
To be happy. To see mum and dad there. To make my educators happy. And to have fun which I had. And to be surrounded by our friends. Then mums and educators cried.
- What do you think? Did they cry out of happiness or out of sadness?
Happiness. And out of sadness.
- Wait, out of happiness or out of sadness?
They were happy because they liked what we had prepared and they were sad because we go to school to be first grader.
If you had the biggest invitation card in the world and you could invite anyone you want, who would you ask to be there that day with you?
Luka, since he had a fever, he couldn’t come. He’s zero years old but he knows how to hold his bottle and say “baba”. Last time there was a baby who just kept crying. I would invite also my aunt and uncle, who celebrates his birthday on Saturday, I think it’s 43rd. And my granny from Macedonia, Macedonia is too far for her to come.
Through this conversation, we discover the boy’s feelings about going to school and we see that the time spent in kindergarten will be associated with beautiful emotional experiences. He showed us how much it meant to children when parents were involved in their life in the kindergarten – the champagne was not tasty, but my dad opened it, and that’s why it’s my favorite part of the workshop. He reminded us how important it is for the children to be happy so we could be happy with them. Their happiness does not require much: to be together with their loved ones and create shared memories.