Play Iceland 2015
Visiting Nurseries
Part 1
The staff and children, at Alfaheidi, were so
welcoming. When we first arrived, a group of
children greeted us with a song. Then we sat
with a group of toddlers and sang while a
teacher played guitar. The songs were all
sung in Icelandic so I couldn't understand
the words but it was really moving to watch
all the children sing and do the movements
to the songs.
"Music is the universal language of mankind."
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The following photographs show a group time
that we observed. The children had been listening
to a national Icelandic song that is meant to
promote literacy. The group sang the song, one
line at a time, and after each line, they would
discuss that line's meaning. Then a child
would volunteer to draw a corresponding picture.
As the child drew, the teacher played music and
the other children sang. The bottom photo shows
a picture of a child in a bed with stairs and a slide.
This represented, "for a child like you." For
this drawing, one child suggested the idea of the
bed but did not want to draw it so another child
volunteered to draw it and they worked on the
idea together so that the drawing correctly
reflected the original idea.
When we first sat down with this group, I thought,
this is too long for these children to sit in a mostly
teacher directed group time but I quickly realized
how meaningful their discussion was and I was
impressed with how the teacher kept the group engaged
while one child was drawing. The process we observed
was quite deep and left a lasting impression on me.
I have to apologize for the quality of the next three photos
but I really wanted to share these because I think this is
something that we don't value enough in the United States.
The small areas that you're looking at in these photos,
are part of the main classrooms. They're little alcoves
where the children are allowed to play and not necessarily
under direct supervision of an adult. This type of play
is crucial to a child's development and if you can
remember back to your own childhood, I'm sure you
can recall the delightfulness of playing in child size
spaces. Blanket forts and large cardboard boxes come
to mind. As an accredited provider, it saddens me that
one of the standards I am forced to meet is having all
children age three and under, in my direct sight at all
times. Children need to feel trusted and need to have
freedom to play and explore on their own.
Kindness, warmth, respect, understanding, patience, trust. These are the words I think of when I look back at my nursery visits in Iceland. I believe other Play Iceland attendees would probably say something similar. The respect the teachers had for the children was absolutely inspiring.
My lovely group standing outside the
entrance of the first nursery we visited,
Alfaheidi, which means elf hill.
entrance of the first nursery we visited,
Alfaheidi, which means elf hill.
welcoming. When we first arrived, a group of
children greeted us with a song. Then we sat
with a group of toddlers and sang while a
teacher played guitar. The songs were all
sung in Icelandic so I couldn't understand
the words but it was really moving to watch
all the children sing and do the movements
to the songs.
"Music is the universal language of mankind."
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The following photographs show a group time
that we observed. The children had been listening
to a national Icelandic song that is meant to
promote literacy. The group sang the song, one
line at a time, and after each line, they would
discuss that line's meaning. Then a child
would volunteer to draw a corresponding picture.
As the child drew, the teacher played music and
the other children sang. The bottom photo shows
a picture of a child in a bed with stairs and a slide.
This represented, "for a child like you." For
this drawing, one child suggested the idea of the
bed but did not want to draw it so another child
volunteered to draw it and they worked on the
idea together so that the drawing correctly
reflected the original idea.
When we first sat down with this group, I thought,
this is too long for these children to sit in a mostly
teacher directed group time but I quickly realized
how meaningful their discussion was and I was
impressed with how the teacher kept the group engaged
while one child was drawing. The process we observed
was quite deep and left a lasting impression on me.
but I really wanted to share these because I think this is
something that we don't value enough in the United States.
The small areas that you're looking at in these photos,
are part of the main classrooms. They're little alcoves
where the children are allowed to play and not necessarily
under direct supervision of an adult. This type of play
is crucial to a child's development and if you can
remember back to your own childhood, I'm sure you
can recall the delightfulness of playing in child size
spaces. Blanket forts and large cardboard boxes come
to mind. As an accredited provider, it saddens me that
one of the standards I am forced to meet is having all
children age three and under, in my direct sight at all
times. Children need to feel trusted and need to have
freedom to play and explore on their own.
This was fascinating to me and found in both nurseries
that I visited. It's like a bathtub, with a water source
and drain so it can be filled with water and the children
can paddle around in it or play with other sensory materials
such as shaving cream. I had never seen anything like it.
volcanic sand in the sand boxes. At first, I thought it
was potting soil but on closer inspection realized it
was sand.
see at preschools in the United States.
Gathered around the fire pit, singing songs, and drinking
warm beverages.
Freedom to play a bit away from the group and adults.
Tire swings. I'm sure these bring the children in
Iceland as much joy as our tire swing brings my group.
Their compost barrels and gardens.
with the children and eat together. We were invited
to eat lunch at the nursery and the soup and bread
we had were amazing. Nutritious homemade meals
seemed to be a priority and every Thursday, a different
child gets to choose what will be served for lunch.
We have special occasions when the children help
me plan the meal but I hadn't thought about allowing
one child, each week, to help me plan. This is something
I might implement in the new year.
Later we took a tour of the kitchen and I found their
snack interesting so I snapped a couple pictures.
During this classroom visit, we watched as the children
and teacher did yoga. It was very peaceful and calming,
making it difficult to stay awake after our delicious meal.
the hula hood around the circle, without letting go of hands.
The teacher set out three sets of two matching cards.
Each child picked a card and then paired up with the
child with the same card.
they took turns rubbing each other's backs and legs.
Much like teachers in the United States rub backs
of children in preparation for nap time. I found this
fascinating, that the children did this and I have to
wonder how this would be accepted in the United
States. It seems like such an amazing way
to teach children about appropriate touch but I
question how Americans would receive this?
I was impressed by so much of what I saw during our tour of Alfaheidi.
Mostly, the positive relationships and respect I witnessed. I saw very
few struggles but when there was an upset child, I noticed that the
teachers just comforted the child with hugs and reassuring words and
did not try to distract the child from being upset or try to convince the
child to get over it. Alfaheidi uses a philosophy called Living Values
which supports respect, caring, understanding, friendship, thoughtfulness,
and children's rights.
I will soon post about my second nursery visit and following that,
the changes that we have made since Play Iceland.
I really liked reading your notes about your first visit. THANKS! Cynthia
ReplyDeleteI really liked reading your notes about your first visit. THANKS! Cynthia
ReplyDelete