Why “just” having fun is so important for children's development.
Recently, the childcare managers and the pedagogical team of SKO were philosophizing with each other about what we think is important for “our” children. Looking to the future and what is expected of children. How is the world changing and what do we want to pass on to children as a childcare facility? Very nice educational goals came out. In this way we want to create awareness among children. Autonomous children who are aware of themselves in the world. We also think that connection is very important. Connection with each other, living with love for each other, but also connection with your environment, nature, your neighborhood and community. We want healthy children, so exercise and healthy food are part of that. We had all formulated beautiful wishes for children together. Until almost the end of the meeting, a colleague said: “Well, when I look at my own child, the most important thing to me is that when I pick him up from daycare that he has had fun”.
And actually it fell a bit quiet then with the awareness that yes, having fun, that's what it's all about. As a pedagogue and as a person I enjoy life, fun and a good dose of humor are of paramount importance. But secretly, in my position as manager of pedagogy at SKO, I found the word fun a bit unsatisfactory, it did not sufficiently cover the importance of our sector for the development of children. That came too close to that other clincher: we're just shelter.
Of course I know that having fun is very important for children, it gives involvement and motivation to develop and learn. But full reconciliation with the fact that childcare is mainly about having fun only came with the inspiration evening we recently organized for parents with science journalist and author Mark Mieras.
Mieras said that children mainly enjoy what their brains need at that moment for optimal development. That is why young children enjoy exercise so much, boys romp around and older girls enjoy chatting. When kids have fun that's what kids do and what their brains want them to do, in complete synergy you could say.
During the inspiration session, Mieras was sometimes somewhat critical about education that does not meet the natural (development) needs of children. He admitted that in education, and certainly in innovation schools such as at Jenaplanschool de Kring, more and more attention is being paid to this, but it turns out to be difficult in education because of everything that "must". While I was listening to him, I thought that we as a childcare center are doing well after all. Because we have always been seen as just shelter, so that requirements have mainly focused on safety, we have had the space to look at children and follow their needs. In my opinion, we are very strong in that.
When I talk to pedagogical staff about their work, it often comes up that they mainly do things with children that the children enjoy, which they enjoy. That tells me that we take a good look at children and that we match their development needs. The direct, visible result is the fun, which is why we support children the most in their development. How beautiful can your work be!
Working in childcare I always feel that we are seen as the little sister of education. Not taken seriously enough yet and the image of that big sister is always above you to aspire to. Now, after my foray into education, I was already completely convinced of our strength in childcare. But I thank Mark for giving nice words and insight into the important work we do in childcare.
I am proud to work in such a beautiful sector. Let's have fun!
Shirley
Did you miss Mark Mieras' inspiration session? See here a compilation of the evening.
