“Here I am
Right here
Right now
Open”
This is the daily mantra the toddlers recite out loud each morning before we begin the day. It is a way to join as a group and welcome what the day has to offer. It is a gentle reminder to be present and accepting of what we need to be taught that day because we can all learn something new each and every day about ourselves, others, or the world around us.
“Here I am
Right here
Right now
Open”
Toddlers are present. Each day. Everyday. From the time they wake up to the time they fall asleep. They are constantly mindful. They rarely fixate on the past or fixate on the future. They live in the NOW and since toddlers live in the moment, from moment to moment, they are also constantly giving us information about what they need from moment to moment. Whether they are communicating with their words or with their bodies, they are telling us what they need right here, right now. Are you listening?
I know you want to answer, “Yes.” I want to answer “Yes” all the time but sometimes I can’t. Adults have a hard time being completely mindful and present. We are thinking about what happened yesterday and beating ourselves up for that thing we said two days ago. Or we are thinking about what need to do over the weekend, like food shop, laundry, and cleaning the bathrooms. Yet, when we are mindful, present, open …. ready…. a sweet balance overtakes us. We can look at our children with nothing but patient loving eyes and REALLY see what they are telling us, what they are trying to show us, what they are needing from us. It’s beautiful (but can be a struggle to get there). So, chant with me….
“Here I am
Right here
Right now
Open”
Last week, Ms. Dori, the toddler team, and I sat down with our newest staff member Ms. Pamela, a mind and body specialist who focuses on listening to what the children’s bodies are telling her and creating a space that meets those needs in order for the children to fulfill what is stirring inside of them. This ultimately helps the children meet their potential, which aligns with our Montessori philosophy. “Free the child’s potential and you will transform him into the world.”
– Maria Montessori
Ms. Pamela observed the classroom and the playground. She asked very insightful questions about Montessori, the toddler program and the needs of a toddler. Then she said, “They are showing you what they need, but you are stopping them.”
Ouch. Snap. Burn.
Me, Ms. Liz? I am stopping them from fulfilling a need? Not me. I follow the child. I constantly question myself and what I am doing to add or take away from the environment. Me? I am not listening?
Then I said to myself ….
“Here I am
Right here
Right now
Open”
And with the assistance of new eyes and a new perspective, the toddler crew, including myself, was ready to hear the feedback of another and listen to the children more. To listen and respond to what their bodies were telling us.
You may have noticed the playground rearranged, the materials being used differently, and the guidelines adjusted. Their bodies told us they needed something else. As we changed and actively listened to their bodies, we have seen less arguments among friends, more purposeful movement, and endless joy because we are not standing in the way of their needs. We aren’t stopping them.
We still have rules of course, but we are more lax about what those rules should be. We cannot be dangerous, disrespectful, or disruptive. Those are our rules. We fall back on those to determine if a behavior is acceptable or not.
Shoes. Optional now.
Building with blocks on grass. Sure.
Climbing with objects. Yes, we need opportunities in order to learn.
This is my passion. This is what I was born to do. But I need reminders too. I can learn something new or be ready to learn a new lesson every day. If you are open and ready, beautiful opportunities show themselves to you. So, I challenge you…. to be, right here, right now, be open…. and listen to what your toddlers want to share with you, about what they need. Be present TOGETHER.
Always,
Ms. Liz and Ms. Sonia
