Week 7 Update - Ms. Drea’s Explorers
Hello Explorer Families,
Or should I say Boo!? I’d planned on doing a two part series for these Stories of the Day as we approached Halloween.
What could be scarier than the unsavory behaviors and big emotions of early childhood or the moments when as adults we think we might blow our stack? What could be more timely than a scary story?
As it happens, sometimes real life is scarier than fiction and this week’s story of the day is going to be much more real than I anticipated. It came to my attention that some parents were concerned about my absence on Friday during pick up time. One of our explorers had an unexpected accident that needed urgent addressing. Two accidents really, as I found him while another explorer was gleefully throwing dirt in his hair. To be fair, this little one with the poopy pants had his own moment when a week ago he’d been the dirt, nay, mudslinger himself.
The little one happened to be my son, who is in Ms. Keely’s class. Since our classes come together at the end of the day, after lunch, for free play— and they already had when the accident occurred— I asked Ms. Keely to watch over my class while I cleaned him up. We were so fortunate to have Tanner’s mom with us— thank you Fawn— and I felt that two adults were sufficient in my absence.
I could talk about how scary it is to clean up poopy pants at a farm but we all know this story. What was very scary though, and what really needs to be addressed, is how concerned some Explorer parents were - and understandably so. I’m so sorry and I can’t apologize enough for letting some of you feel as though your child was left to fend for themselves. Though I can assure you they weren’t, I also know that doesn’t help to alleviate a feeling or perception in the moment. Walking up to a crowd of free playing small children running on fumes and 5 hours of heated outdoor learning must be horrific as is, without the added stress of not seeing a recognizable adult face.
Sometimes, when we see children playing outside— it’s almost alien. We know deep down it’s important and that’s why we bring our children here— to find some kind of balance, a middle path. To give our children a sense of freedom, nature and discovery that perhaps we didn’t have or maybe that perhaps we felt we had to pay the price of safety for. Neither of these outcomes is acceptable. My first job is to keep your children safe, and it’s a responsibility that I’m honored to uphold. It is only through that first job that I can do my second-- to make sure they have fun.
I wholeheartedly believe and feel backed by evidence and research, that young children learn through play, that play is their natural instinct and that nature can teach us how to be human. I don’t need to teach our children how to play. None of us do. We just need to allow them. And make sure we’re there to catch their falls, unkind words and actions— including the dirt/mud when we can. As we are, they are figuring a lot out. Please accept my apology for not being present at Friday’s pickup. I hope you will understand the urgency. I heard there may have been some kiddos running into the parking lot, and if those were yours— please let me know. That can’t happen.
If any of you would like to contact me directly, through email or phone and for any reason, please do. There are a few hoops to jump through and/but if you’d like to shadow our class throughout the day and see what it is we do and what it feels like to be in the center of what many play based educators like to call “seeming chaos”, I’m more than happy and encourage parents to come closer and/or even just to talk to you more about the important stuff-- ie.. what do you do when questions.
As for what we did this week—photos speak louder than words. The tea bags that made it home contain Peppermint, Chamomile, Calendula and Lavender. A special thanks to Idan’s Father, who stepped in as Saturday’s Explorer Adult while I piggybacked three kiddos in a row to the composting toilet. Thanks to him, I thrice avoided Friday’s spill.
Another grateful thanks to the anatomy and ability of the frog we found “stuck” in the rain gutter. Watching him, letting him find his way out of that impossible hole was truly miraculous.
Not to scare you all even more, but if you’d like to let your children dress up next week I’m okay with that. Just be prepared for a spooky scene and make sure they're appropriately dressed for hiking and the weather.
Until then, be safe and be well and thank you.
Drea M