All books have an inspiration. Mine was my mother. She’s worked 40 years at a remarkable preschool in Columbus, Ohio where they truly believe in free play. When I say truly, I mean they go so far as to give three and four-year-olds boxing gloves and allow them to wrestle and roughhouse in the classroom. The original title of my book was Boxing at Preschool (published as It’s OK Not to Share). Of course, I dedicated it to her.
This Mother’s Day I’m honoring and celebrating my mother.
I’ve always known she was a marvel when it comes to children. Inside our own family and community we knew it. Now she’s being recognized for it statewide. Last week my mother was awarded Outstanding Teacher of the Year for preschool in the state of Ohio. Flowers, banquet, portrait, pewter trophy and scrapbook of all the lovely nomination letters people wrote explaining how she changed their lives.
In her award speech, my mother (who loves spending a day with three-year-olds, but hates public speaking) made a strong plea for PLAY in children’s lives. I’d like to share part of her speech with you that earned her two standing ovations:
Thank you to everyone involved. I am most grateful. I was completely surprised by the announcement that I was the winner because I didn’t even know that I had been nominated.
This award is especially meaningful because it honors a school I’ve devoted my life to — the School for Young Children and its play-based philosophy.
At the School for Young Children we know that kids need time and space for free play without teachers telling them what to do. That wrestling matches in the classroom are OK. That boys can wear princess dresses. That kids can paint their arms and feet purple. This type of play helps kids develop socially and emotionally. That’s the core of our preschool program, and it has remained strong for the past 43 years, despite many national swings of the pendulum.
The School for Young Children was started in 1969 by two forward-thinking women. It has made a profound difference in my life. When I first encountered the preschool I was a struggling new parent. I felt uncomfortable with my children’s feelings, unless they were happy. I soaked up knowledge from mentors at the School for Young Children, became a teacher, and stayed.
Forty years later, I am still learning.
I feel so lucky to have found this very supportive and loving community of teachers and parents. Both my son and daughter attended the preschool and they are here tonight. Both my children are writers, and my daughter felt so strongly about the School for Young Children that she wrote the book It’s OK Not to Share, which summarizes its philosophy.
There are a lot of expectations that pressure young children these days. When in doubt, trust your own instincts, trust your children’s play ideas, and Let Kids Play! Thank you.
What’s lovely is that, besides putting Free Play front-and-center, my mother admitted that she’d started out mothering with lots of good intentions but not much knowledge.
That’s where we all start. With love and good intentions. But we need more.
I wrote my book for parents like my mother when she was young. It shares the accumulated wisdom of 75 early childhood professionals. Knowledge of child development, advice from wise souls, and trusting your own parental instincts will make life much brighter.
Happy Mother’s Day to one and all!
Have you been touched by a special mother or teacher? Who has smoothed your way? Who would you nominate for a special Mother’s Day award?
