Today as I reflect on the most meaningful parts of my school day, I notice the moments when children express ready concern for their classmates. I think this is a response that needs to be nurtured. I am weary of hearing the terms "bullying" or "anti-bullying." I know that is a last choice due to stress and anxiety and low self-esteem.
When children are in a healthy environment where they are seen and included and valued, then they can express their natural generous hearts. I see children's concerned faces, and sometimes rather frightened faces, if someone gets hurt, mad, or sad. When I provide them with tools/skills/strategies, they are joyful and spontaneous in showing that they care.
I want to nurture this possibly through CCC training. Children could design get well cards, sympathy cards for people or for pets. They could form a children's chorus, singing gentle music to a troubled community (flood, tornado, or other disaster areas.) They could visit a sick child---well, not a contagious one, but many children have to be home with little or no contact with other children while they heal from surgery, or other non-communicable health challenges. The children could learn simple games that could travel anywhere. Depending on the age of who you are visiting, they could bring cards, Candyland, Quiddler, Junior Monopoly, etc. Teaching children to visit others would not only open their hearts and give them confidence as a responder to life's troubled situations, but it would prepare them for when bumps come in their own lives.
We could talk through the how would you feel if....and Let's practice what you say when...
Cooperative crafts could be made together. Cooperative stories, made up riddles and songs...
Friendships would be made where they otherwise would have never met.
Thoughts, thoughts, always growing.
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