The gift of patience

"Let us send the children out into nature to learn from nature just what patience is and how important it is for them to learn patience."

- Bernard Shaw

According to my dictionary, patience is “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset”.  In my experience, being patient is much more difficult when there is some kind of gratification involved as the end product.   In that case, waiting can become an endurance. 

In todays western society, many young children struggle with patience.  They can not wait and they demand instant gratification. They are used to being entertained and in some cases they get served upon instantly. 

The children at our preschools are taught the meaning of patience, not just knowing how to wait for something, but experiencing patience through hands on interactions and experiences.  Our children are given time and space to be outside, in nature, in our garden  to watch the birds, the animals, the insects, the flowers, the trees, the clouds, the wind, the rain, and everything else that is part of nature’s life theatre. 

They learn to be patient when they plant seeds, and wait for the seedlings to grow into plants with beautiful white flowers that grow into yummy red strawberries.

They wait patiently when they place food on the bird feeder for the wild birds to visit, picking the seeds, and giving a live show of tricks.

They discover what patience means when they care for the broody hen who sits on the nest for three weeks, until they arrive at preschool one morning and find fluffy chicks peeking from beneath mother hen.

They are patient when they observe the caterpillar turning into a chrysalis and one day emerge as a beautiful monarch butterfly.

And the ultimate patience is taught when they plant an acorn and wait to finally one day identify a green sprout that resembles an oak!

Instead of playing with computer games or watching tv, commodities that deliver instant gratification, the children at our preschools are outside, engaging their hands, their hearts and their mind in the ever changing life theatre of nature.  Patience is a gift for life, our children deserve it!

Seasons Greetings
- Anja

Our journey at Little Earth (3) - The tribe

Tawa Montessori Preschool is the first early childhood Silver Award Enviroschool in the Wellington region. We are very proud that our new sister school, Little Earth, has joined the list of Silver Enviroschools. Being an Enviroschool and becoming part of their tribe, is an important part of our programme at both our preschools.

The Enviroschools programme is well set out with guiding principles and key areas to support us in our teaching. As an Enviroschool we strive to integrate education for sustainability into the whole school culture, guided by five principles*:

1. Children are empowered to participate in a genuine way from their own unique and creative perspective.

2. Children are engaged in the physical, social, cultural and political aspects of our local and global environment

3. Maori perspectives and knowledge are included in the learning process to offer insights unique to the culture wit the longest history of human interaction with this country.

4. Respect for the diversity of people and cultures is integrated to achieving a sustainable environment in New Zealand - one that is fair, peaceful and co-operative.

5. Children are part of a sustainable community that acts in ways that nurture people and nature, now and in the future.

The purpose of the programme is to integrate sustainability into our whole preschool community. We strive to make sustainability an integral part of what we do throughout our preschool. An important part of this is the involvement of the wider community, parents and whanau who share their knowledge and wisdom. A community which works intergenerational, people teaching and learning together. A place that is participatory, involving the children and engaging them in the daily life of the preschool. Giving the children a sense of purpose, inspiring them to be creative and become competent to make their own decisions.

The Enviroschools programme incorporates four key areas*:

1. People and Participation - Tangata
People work collaboratively, are reflective of our bicultural heritage and the diversity of their community. They ensure that they are all involved in sharing decisions to become confident, connected, actively involved, lifelong learners.

2. Programmes - Kaupapa Ako
Programmes focus on learning about the interaction between people and the environment and developing attitudes and behaviours for a more sustainable future. Through taking action children discover why sustainability matters and how to make sustainability a reality in their school and wider community.

3. Practices - Tikanga
Sustainable practices are part of school culture instigated by children and staff to make a more resilient community for the future.

4. Place - Wahi
A place is created where children and their community work together willingly to reduce their impact on the planet for future generations to enjoy the diverse and beautiful world we live in.

Our local Enviroschools facilitator, with the support of our local green gardener, have supported us greatly with their knowledge and expertise. They have facilitated workshops, huis, and clustermeetings. In our journey of becoming a sustainable preschool community at Little Earth, being part of a tribe like Enviroschools is invaluable.
- Anja

* from Enviroschools handbook 2009 

Links:
-  Our journey at Little Earth (1) - The start 
-  Our journey at Little Earth (2) - The process
-  Our journey at Little Earth (3) - The tribe