This blog was originally posted on April 27, 2016. Since Bev is the focus of this week's podcast, I thought I'd share it again.
After hearing of Bev Bos’s passing in February, I spent a couple of days reviewing and reflecting on her writing. A 1995 article called JOY in Early Childhood Programs particularly spoke to me, as it has so often in the last 20 years. Bev wrote that sadly, joy is not often a consideration for people who are talking about and planning programs and experiences for young children. She reminded us that “because learning always involves feelings, we must protect the right of all children to have a hallelujah kind of childhood.”
I’ll say it again, because the words thrill me to my very soul: WE MUST PROTECT THE RIGHT OF ALL CHILDREN TO HAVE A HALLELUJAH KIND OF CHILDHOOD.
That means we must be active, intentional, self aware and reflective. Protecting children’s rights does not happen accidentally.
That means we do this for the child whose mom drives you crazy, the child who hits and kicks when you are trying to get him to settled down for rest time, the child whose nose is constantly oozing and who slobbers on her chin. All children means ALL children.
That means that we can’t settle for children being “fine” in our programs. It can’t be enough that they are still in the building with us and still breathing when dad comes to pick up. We must protect the right of all children to have a hallelujah kind of childhood.
Hallelujah childhoods don’t come from structure, rules or cute Pinterest crafts. They come from relationships. Protecting the right to a hallelujah kind of childhood demands that we go further than the “liking kids” that got our foot in the door. We have to know, trust and delight in every single child in our care. And they need to know it.
What can you learn about the child whose mother drives you crazy that will help you connect with him? What makes the child who hits and kicks at you laugh? What story will bring the little girl with the oozing nose to your lap? How can you create a connection that feels like a hallelujah?
Bev said it best, “because the heart has a long memory for pain, we must take care, when we are making plans for programs…that the element of joy exists…we must protect the right of all children to have a hallelujah kind of childhood.”
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