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Published on 11/30/1998 All articles from this issue

Playground creates opportunities for kids to learn about caring

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Karen Willemsen

Special to the Town Crier

In my class of kindergartners last year, I often saw spontaneous moments when the children would hug one another, give others their snack, or try to help a child who was upset.

I particularly remember how one little girl Jessie reminded me that adults have to balance between teaching the values of sharing and fairness, with the more nuanced values of giving and receiving, nurturing and cooperating.

I took my class out to recess one day last spring. Oscar always wanted to rode a tricycle, but there weren't enough. It was clear that day that Oscar would not be riding. He tried to tantrum his way into getting one, but I held firm to the belief that I needed to help learn to take turns.

Then Jessie spontaneously rode up and gave her bike to Oscar.

I thought about interrupting this exchange, but I didn't. I knew this was a wonderful learning moment for her, because without any prompting she was caring for Oscar.

When I asked her about it, she explained that he only liked the tricycles, whereas she liked doing many things at recess. He cared about it more than she did, and she cared about him.

It made for an opportune teaching moment as well. When the children gathered at the end of class to reflect collectively on their day, I asked Oscar to tell about how Jessie "took care of him" at recess.

The children's own actions pooled together to create a sense of family in the class, so that they all could become connected to the experience of caring.

And I knew that lesson will always be just as important as learning to take turns.

Karen Willemsen has taught on the Peninsula for five years. She studied education at Santa Clara and Harvard universities.