Perseverance and Play-Doh . . . Reflections on Resiliency in the Preschool Classroom
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By Jamie Karagatsoulis, Director, Early Childhood Center, MPSI
Navigating a preschool classroom during a global pandemic can be compared to attempting to walk barefoot across a floor scattered with Legos. You jump, skip, hop and sometimes come to a complete stop in your attempt to spare yourself the pain of actually stepping on one. What you do come to realize is no matter how hard you try, there will always be that one Lego that gets left behind on the carpet . . . and that's ok.
As educators we spend a great deal of our time planning lessons and organizing our classrooms for children to experience the wonder of exploration and socialization that comes from the comfort of a classroom cohort. And like the Legos, just when we think there is a positive shift in this raging pandemic, and things are settling back into a normal pace and routine, that forgotten Lego pops up and throws you right off your path.
Resilience is my new favorite word. Resilience in my teachers for shifting from in-person classrooms to virtual classrooms and then back again. Resilience in our students for learning to use technology, the mute button and signing in to our live Zoom calls. Resilience in our families for arranging their schedules to support their child's learning, for sharing their fears and frustrations and still pushing through, even though it was hard. Fifteen years from now, when these children are graduating from high school, I hope this word "resilience" carries on with them.
Though times may be challenging, the learning continues, the growing continues and the friendships persevere. We now smile with our eyes and give air hugs, but we continue to sing, laugh, dance and make Play-Doh. Ultimately, we have learned more patience, more acceptance, more understanding and more kindness.
For the families and children who have been on this journey with us, we are so amazed each day at the joy you find in the falling snow, the wind whispers and muddy playground puddles. We love that you chose to partner with us even though things were uncertain. We admire your strength and your courage, facing each day with uncertainty and hope. That is all we as educators can ask . . . continue to hope, continue to dream. One day soon we will look back on this time in our lives and smile, not because things were always wonderful, but because we chose to see the wonder in all things.