Schedule Tour
“The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won’t wait while you do the work.” Patricia Clafford
I think we’ve all stopped what we were doing and shared a moment with a child. It’s always a feel good moment, never any regrets. I often wonder though, how many rainbow moments we pass up.
Today in the Bluebirds class we had two “rainbow” moments, one which we stopped and savored and one which I let pass us by.
During circle time one of the children commented that Grace had green hair. And so began the impromtu science experiment. We discovered, through a bit of trial and error, that a green piece of cellophane art hanging in the window was casting a green shadow. Everyone wanted to have a chance to have the green shadow dance upon them and they did, one by one. It was a grand celebration of the science of color, shadows and sunshine in the midst of dreary fall weather.
Today, while walking to gymnastics, one of the children asked, “Hey, what happened to the mushrooms?”
Just steps beyond I pointed out the mushrooms to the children. I remember saying, “look to your left and you will see the mushrooms. Notice how big they’ve gotten.” And to myself I thought, “sheesh Kathy you sound like a tour guide.” You have to have the picture . . . fourteen children walking two by two with a rope of handles in between them . . . myself at the front and Mr. Ty at the back. We looked like a tour bus, a cute, energetic tour bus.
Unlike a tour bus, we didn’t stop. We didn’t pause. We kept on moving. We had to get to gymnastics. And besides, our tour bus could fall apart with any hint of a detour. It was easier to keep going. But, now I think 15 . . . 30 seconds . . . perhaps a minute or two. In reflection of the day, I realize, we missed the rainbow.
But, it’s got me thinking, wondering and pondering . . . what if I dig up the mushrooms and bring them into the classroom? Will the rainbow come back? It’s worth a try!