Everything I need to know I learned in Kindergarten

My mom has this book at home called, "Everything I need to know I learned in Kindergarten." I don't exactly remember much of my Kindergarten experience, but I have learned so much in the past few weeks as a teacher's assistant. Here are just a few of the things I've learned:

1. Everyone needs a friend. There is a girl in my class with developmental disablities. Recently, a classmate began helping her with her schoolwork, and plays with her at recess. Since then, she has not stopped smiling. Everytime I see them together, it just about brings tears to my eyes.

2. You get more accomplished when you're patient and kind. When I first started working in the Kindergarten, I got frustrated very easily when a child wouldn't listen to me. Sometimes they flat out said "No!" It wasn't something I was used to --- school is a very different envrironment from summer camp or babysitting. I've since learned that when you establish a good and positive relationship right at the beginning, you don't have to worry about being firm and coming across as an evil ogre. They naturally listen to you because you're their friend.

3. Reading is fun. I'd say the best part of my job is getting to listen to all the wonderful children's books we read in Kindergarten. The kids love them. You can see that reading opens their eyes to a whole new world - where anything can happen! Read with your kids. It's one of the best things you can do for them.

4. Children are incredibly perceptive and have wonderful insights. The other day I was playing with a little boy at recess. I looked over at him and saw that he was standing very still, looking intently at the surrounding scenery. I asked him, "What are you looking at bud?" He thought for a minute, then turned and said, "Oh, I'm just looking at the world." What a profound statment.

5. Birthday's are important. To someone who has only lived for five years, the passing of another year is a highly significant occasion --- one to be celebrated with parties, and cupcakes, and fairy costumes, and tiaras, and spiderman cakes, and pictures, and pinatas. I love to see the kids' faces light up when it's their birthday. Celebrate with your kids.

6. Children need boundaries. I used to think that you couldn't give kids boundaries when it came to art projects. Somewhere along the way I learned that if you give any sort of guidance at all, it restricts their "artistic interpretation." That is a bunch of crap. Kids need boundaries. When you give them guidelines, then they have the opportunity to be creative within those guidelines. Otherwise, you just get a bunch of paintings that don't adhere to the curriculum at all. There isn't much progression that way.

7. A simple note or kind gesture touches my heart. My favorite moments at work are when the kids come up to me and ask if I have class that day (I have to leave early to attend my own college classes). I love telling them that my class was cancelled because they get so excited and tell me they're happy I can stay. The other day one of my favorite little girls came up to me and gave me a card that said, "I love you Miss Caitlin." I was so touched. Even five-year-olds can be thoughtful.

I love my job. After all, everything I need to know I learn in Kindergarten!

Love to you all!