What I’ve Learned from the Kids I Teach

by Sarah Vadskjaer Grapek

As adults, we often get so overwhelmed with reality and serious matters that it’s easy to forget the little wonders we discovered about life as kids. When I teach dance to young children, I see their eyes sparkle with fun as they move their bodies in whatever way they feel is right to the music. I believe that as much as we have to teach them as early childhood educators, they teach us a lot as well: like remembering how to use our imagination and enjoy being who we are without feeling a need to apologize for it or worry about what others may think.

Being surrounded by little people experiencing things for the first time is such a special thing to see. Having lived through many experiences and endured the countless trials of adulthood, I think that we often find that we have lost our inner spark that used to be there in our childhood.

Enjoying the precious moments as they are happening is something I have thought more about while observing the children that I teach. I see them frolic about and remember what it was like to have boundless energy, and just do things that you felt like you wanted to do because that was what made you happy. Young children express their feelings in such an uninhibited way: showing intense happiness because of the smallest victories, being overcome with a fit of giggles over a silly word, or bursting into tears from running too hard and taking a tumble.

So, I like to think about what the children do that we adults can use too. Using your imagination is not something reserved only for kids; it is so healthy to be creative and to invent new things. Find time to share laughter over something funny and know that it’s okay to have that cry when you feel that you need it. Remember that being yourself and being a little different is something to be celebrated. As teachers, we get to teach a new generation of little humans how to interact with the people and things around them: with each new lesson we are helping to shape the view of the world we all live in through their eyes, and this is one of the most special parts of being an early childhood educator. So, while you are teaching young children the ways of the world around them, try to think about what you can learn from your students yourself.