Tilling the Soil for Growth: Nurturing Young Learners in Early Childhood
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Hey Reader! One of my personal growth goals for 2024 is to get better at gardening – typically, when I plant flowers in my flower bed, they are dead in two weeks. But…this is the year where that will change – I hope! What I’ve learned so far is that there are several really important factors in successfully growing something! You have to have the right sunlight, the right soil, the right amount of water, and even have to worry about rabbits, aphids, and fungus! As I’ve been working on my gardening skills, I’ve noticed how much applies to our work in early childhood. The children God has entrusted to our care are actually a lot like the flowers I’m trying to grow. They require certain conditions to be able reach their full potential. Have you ever thought about the fact that you are actually tilling soil for learning your young student’s brains? Hang with me for a bit and I hope it’ll make a little more sense. The Bible includes a parable about sowing spiritual seeds in various types of soil (you can read it in Matthew 13). I believe this same concept applies to us in early childhood. We are preparing the soil for learning – we support the foundational development upon which all other learning will be built. If the “soil” of a young child’s heart, mind, body, and soul is not properly prepared, our efforts will be in vain. Soil along the path – This is the child who is lacking the foundational skills necessary for learning. Start with basics – physical development, social skills, and communication. Rocky soil – This child has learned a few basic skills, but there is still a way to go! They need a lot of practice and repetition. Sometimes circumstances beyond their control (like a stressful family environment or illness) inhibit their ability to retain what you’re trying to teach. Thorns & weeds – This child needs a lot of love! They are battling a lot of circumstances – maybe developmental delays, maybe dysfunction in their home, maybe just a more challenging personality! The Good Soil – This child is ready for learning! They have a good foundation of skills, they’ve had good rest, they feel safe, secure and can show some self-control! Our job as early educators is to determine where our children are each day when they come in. The reality is, they could be in any spot on any given day! But YOU have been given the gift of tilling the soil for these young students. You’re adding topsoil, you’re mixing in some fertilizer, you’re watering, you’re pulling weeds and removing rocks. YOU are preparing the children for a lifetime of learning as you love, nurture, laugh with, and encourage them each day. Hopefully, you’re doing more than just keeping them alive – you’re actually helping them thrive! Cheering you on as you put on your gardening gloves and get down in the dirt today and in the days to come. P.S. If you have some tips for me on building my gardening skills…reply to this email and let me know!
Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team
Colossians 3:16 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” |
