Responsibility & Animals

St John’s teaches children that they are empowered citizens of the world. So, it was no surprise when Joslin and Lou Lou devised their plan to solve the Corona Crisis. One solution  involves medicine, the other magic. This week, we asked some other children about their ideas. While discussing these topics with young children might feel uncomfortable, it’s important to give children the space to share their ideas and feelings. It can also provide a space to clarify concepts they may have, and give them the opportunity to take some control back during a time where we are all facing new restrictions.
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Charlie: Find a chalk board and write ‘No one can come into this house.’
Louise: What about the mail? The mailman can throw the mail! But not if the baby is sleeping. Every time Francis is asleep, he does the doorbell and wakes her up. So, if she is sleeping they can go to the next house.
Kian: Just so you know, the coronavirus spreads very fast. It can go so fast it can beat airplanes.
Elle: You might not know or if someone has the corona virus or not so we can’t go near anyone. We just can't see it. 

Responsibility broken down is our ability to respond. We are all trying to understand our capabilities and responsibilities during this time and hope to rise to the occasion. But what can children do? We continue to explore the impact children can have, and what we see again and again, is their ability to spread joy. While many children have knowledge about their circumstances, they are not bogged down by it. The children are like wells of happiness and through their physical or digital presence and their art and expression, they extend an invitation to join their happiness. Louise suggested we could send messages to doctors to tell them how much we love them. Elle left a message on her sidewalk. Children have still been leaving their rocks that spread joy.  What are some ways your children have brought levity or cheerfulness to your home?

Animals

With the children spending more time at home, pets are getting more face time and affection. We noticed  several children's interactions with pets on their Zoom calls. Joslin's dog Freddy knocked over the camera while she tried to show us how she climbs her tree. Margaret shared a story about her dog Cowboy eating everything, including her cheese sandwich. And children have been able to share about the wildlife they see around them. Sam saw bears and foxes at his home in Virginia, and I'm sure he is grateful to be experiencing spring in nature.  Charlie even got to witness new life in his own home, with the arrival of several new kittens. Sadly, not all the kittens made it, but resulted in insights and conversations about life and death. While we may not be able to learn in our classroom, we are adaptable and able to learn from all of the opportunities around us.