As the day proceeded and the children in 3 year olds class were done with their free play. They pulled a chair each, made a circle and sat around for their circle time. The facilitator noticed that there was a slight issue that there was a yawning space one side and a jostling for space on another. Aa wanted to sit only next to K where both the adjacent seats were occupied. He was almost in tears, wanting to sit only next to only K. Some of the children spoke to him and told him how there's no space there, and to go sit next to Av as there's more space there but Aa refused. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to address the old issue of wanting to be friends only with one person:
F: Aa, Why don't you go sit next to Av? There's a lot more space there.
Aa: No ma'am (tears up)! I want to sit next to K.
F: How can we solve this? Because see, there's no space here to sit next to K.
*Aa looks and seems to be thinking*
F: You always sit next to K right? Why don't you try something different and sit next to Av where there is more space?
*Aa stands and stares at K*
H: Yeah Aa. You should go sit there. We should be friends with everybody!
F: Yeah! Sounds like a good idea. Aa is already friends with K. Why don't you try and make new friends? Anyway, it's Aa's choice. I know he is smart and he will make smart choices. Let me know how you'd like to solve this problem.
A moment later, Aa lifted his chair, went and sat next to Av where there was a lot more space and the circle was complete. He was then appreciated for showing openness and agreeing to make new friends, and given a victory clap by everybody in the class! The facilitator and children then had a conversation on why it's important to make new friends:
F: Why do you think we should make new friends?
Some children went on to talk about some of the new friends that they have made outside, in their apartments and in their own class while some pondered.
An: Because if we don't then we will have only one friend.
F: Yes, good point. So what happens if that one friend of yours doesn't come to school then?
An: We won't have any friends to play with. We will get bored!
H: I am friends with everybody!
Then the children moved on to speak about how they are friends with everybody and how they will try and be more friendly. After getting their agreement, it was put up on the 'Ground Rules' chart that 'We will make friends with everybody in class', that 'We are all friends'. This whole discussion ended with a group hug and the day moved on pretty seamlessly as they all sat around with each other throughout and made conversations with each other.
Ever since when Ad tries to sit next to K, the whole class reminds him to make new friends. There is shared ownership and camaraderie of a different level since the discussion. When we co-arrive at ground rules children seem to actively own the agreement rather than passively following someone else's instructions. It's amazing what a group of 3 year olds can do when they decide to work together and be friends.
F: Aa, Why don't you go sit next to Av? There's a lot more space there.
Aa: No ma'am (tears up)! I want to sit next to K.
F: How can we solve this? Because see, there's no space here to sit next to K.
*Aa looks and seems to be thinking*
F: You always sit next to K right? Why don't you try something different and sit next to Av where there is more space?
*Aa stands and stares at K*
H: Yeah Aa. You should go sit there. We should be friends with everybody!
F: Yeah! Sounds like a good idea. Aa is already friends with K. Why don't you try and make new friends? Anyway, it's Aa's choice. I know he is smart and he will make smart choices. Let me know how you'd like to solve this problem.
A moment later, Aa lifted his chair, went and sat next to Av where there was a lot more space and the circle was complete. He was then appreciated for showing openness and agreeing to make new friends, and given a victory clap by everybody in the class! The facilitator and children then had a conversation on why it's important to make new friends:
F: Why do you think we should make new friends?
Some children went on to talk about some of the new friends that they have made outside, in their apartments and in their own class while some pondered.
An: Because if we don't then we will have only one friend.
F: Yes, good point. So what happens if that one friend of yours doesn't come to school then?
An: We won't have any friends to play with. We will get bored!
H: I am friends with everybody!
Then the children moved on to speak about how they are friends with everybody and how they will try and be more friendly. After getting their agreement, it was put up on the 'Ground Rules' chart that 'We will make friends with everybody in class', that 'We are all friends'. This whole discussion ended with a group hug and the day moved on pretty seamlessly as they all sat around with each other throughout and made conversations with each other.
Ever since when Ad tries to sit next to K, the whole class reminds him to make new friends. There is shared ownership and camaraderie of a different level since the discussion. When we co-arrive at ground rules children seem to actively own the agreement rather than passively following someone else's instructions. It's amazing what a group of 3 year olds can do when they decide to work together and be friends.
Contributed by Sruthy Krishna, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.
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