“Welcome to the Eagles!”

Each year, as children move on to the next age group, environments, and even new teachers, there is a period of acclimation as the group, including children new to the CEC (Child Educational Center), develop new rhythms and distinct personalities. This year, children in the Eagle group have been so welcoming to their new friends, inviting them to play and helping them with new routines. Nurturing and kindness are some of the central values of the CEC, and we see ample demonstration of this in how children interact with one another. For example, if a child has a challenging time separating from their family member, other children in their group rush to their aid, offering comfort and inviting them to join them.   

Teachers had taken the beginning of this year to reflect on how it compared to last year when we were still at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. “This year is so different from last year because the health department guidelines no longer require the most stringent physical distancing, and this allows us to offer children greater opportunities to play collaboratively and share their ideas, not just from an extreme distance,” said Master Lead Teacher Ani Ivanov.  

The children’s imagination and ingenuity have not been inhibited by distancing and mask-wearing. They brainstorm massive projects together and work tirelessly to bring them to life, converting the Eagle room into spaces that fit their interests at the time. The children have incredible attention to detail, creating elaborate scenes and environments. Their most recent venture was turning the room into a restaurant, complete with tables, chairs, and a full kitchen to prepare food. Ani had an exciting experience when she was invited to dine at the restaurant and was served a plastic cow on a plate.

The children’s imaginations are evident as they use materials in the environment with great creativity! It is fascinating to observe how the play of four- and five-year-old children grow in depth and detail. It provides us with windows through which we can appreciate the inner lives of the children.