Observation
This week has encountered a lot of observation. For several reasons I have done a fair bit of observing my children. It has brought a few realisations, some good, some not so good.
- My children actually do play very nicely together most of the time. Yes, they have their fair share of arguments, like all children do, but I believe that is how they learn about socialisation and interaction etc. so I should relax more with their fighting.
- As parents, we rely too much sometimes on technology, it consumes a lot of our time and energy, which is frequently not necessary. We need to reassess priorities at times.
- One of my children has suddenly gone from being a very confident, happy to spread their wings, try anything child, to a clingy, not wanting to leave my side child. This, I am struggling to understand and am trying to think of how to help.
- Letting children experiment with mess, explore textures, arts and crafts is good. Mess can be cleaned up, it is never as bad as I think it is going to be, children learn so much from the freedom to experiment themselves.
It is a very useful exercise to consciously spend time watching and processing your observations. We all go through life wrapped up in our daily activities, which means we don’t always truly see what is in front of us until we stop and look for it.
I have learnt a lot this week and will be trying to encourage further, the good parts and work on improving the not so good elements.
24
Jan
Observation is so important and when we’re just getting on, we forget to step back and evaluate I think. I find it as a parent and in my classroom. More time to reflect. Sounds like it’s been a worthwhile week!
#wotw
Yes, there are times we don’t see what is right in front of us until we step back a bit
It’s good to observe and be more aware of your life, so many people bumble along with blinkers! #WotW
Yes, very true
Sounds like an interesting word and exercise. I felt a little like this by ‘playing’ more this week – getting involved with the children and relaxing into the fun, without thinking about other jobs I needed to be doing. Hope you get to the bottom of the new-found clinginess, too. Thanks for joining in with #WotW x
Thanks, it was good to take a look at what is here in front of us. Still working on the ‘clingy’ thing
I love to sit back and observe the children playing, I never spend enough time doing it
Yes, it is all too easy to forget sometimes
I have sometimes suspected that I am the least observant person ever (not great eyesight either!) but I know what you mean about putting down the technology and really focussing on them more. I must also be more brave when it comes to messy play – I normally leave this to the nursery/preschool!! #WotW
Ah yes I think allowing kids to experiment with messy play is really tough, but important
Great #WotW Karen. Really hope your clingy child is just going through a short lived phase… I often watch my girls in wonder when they’re in the depths of imaginary play, makes me really happy to view from afar
It is lovely to watch little ones play
Really good point and well made. Hope the nice bits continue and you figure out the other bits
Thank you, I’m working in it