Early Childhood Digest: February 8
Kevin McCallister, co-regulation is the newest buzzword, a book about an inchworm. There is a lot going on here.
"Marv, I think we've been scammed by a kindy-gartener." Do you remember this line from Home Alone, when Harry peeks in as Kevin decorates his tree, calling for his father who isn't home? It's the moment when the Wet Bandits realize that Kevin is indeed home alone and make their plan to burglarize the house.
A few weeks ago, I got scammed by a group of kindergarteners in my classroom. I saw them goofing around, and I went over and invited one to a lesson. He said, "Oh, I'm going to have a snack." "Okay," I replied, "just check in with me when you are finished so we can get to your lesson." As I walked away, giggles exploded from the group. "You just have to tell her you're having a snack, and she won't make you do a lesson!" the boy declared, in a shouted whisper. He was filled with delightful smugness as he made his way to the snack table. Part of me wanted to turn around and let him know I obviously heard them, but I walked back to my observation stool instead. He had his snack, and I gave him the lesson later in the morning. But I thought about this interaction for a long time. As grown people, do we feel offended when young children try to outsmart us? Does outsmarting adults give children a sense of mastery and control? Letting this child think that he outsmarted me didn't hurt anyone. He might have felt empowered by this feeling. I wonder if trying to outsmart adults indicates that a child is moving into a new plane of development, feeling a sense of mastery in their independence.