It's the little things

By Alicia Jones

The kindergarten is off to a great start. A typical day begins with the children being brought by their mother, grandmother or siblings each morning between 7:30 and 8:15 am. We inspect them when they come in and they wash their face and hands. They find their cups with their personal sign (each child has a different picture like a flower or guitar so that they know what belongs to them) on it and brush their teeth. After getting cleaned up for the day, the children find a corner of the room to work on a self-directed activity until breakfast. We line up and head to breakfast. Mari, our wonderful cook and helper, makes breakfast so delicious that the children are always excited to go to the kitchen!

After breakfast we spend a while on the playground when the weather is nice. After the children have expended some energy we head back inside, wash up and have a piece of fruit. On days the children are able to be good listeners we have a short circle time together; share a bible story and songs. Then the children choose their own activity. Many of the children didn’t know how to color, do a puzzle or build with blocks the first day they came into our classroom, but now, just two weeks into kindergarten these are some of their favorite activities! They also choose from playing with baby dolls and kitchen toys or sitting in our quiet corner and looking at books.

Many children love when we dance together or do a group activity, like planting seeds before lunch. Soon after lunch mothers arrive and we say, “See you tomorrow!” And that is the routine of our kindergarten. Each day is unique with its challenges and successes.

It has been the little things that have filled my heart with joy. After just one week of kindergarten we had the class walking in a line to the kitchen and to the playground. After just three days of teaching the first nine numbers we had several children identifying the numbers on their own! By the second week of class all the children were brushing their teeth daily, a new activity for many of them. Now they even ask to brush their teeth when they arrive. When I see these small miracles I give God praise, He is teaching these children one day at a time.