The School of Life

When I think back to my childhood, I remember disliking Kindergarten and Elementary School. I found the school drab and depressing. None of my early childhood education teachers stand out in my memory as particularly good, loving or energetic. That is not to say that my teachers were necessarily poor, but they certainly didn’t have a noticeable impact, and having two older and rambunctious siblings, learning wasn’t on the top of my priority list. In fact, I recall my surprise when several years later, I began liking school. I found many of my teachers in High School inspiring, and I started to truly enjoy learning. 

Now as a parent, and perhaps because of my educational experiences, I want to give my children the experience that I discovered in my latter teenage years but at the onset of their education.  As a result, my husband and I took the process of selecting a preschool for my son seriously.  Our goal was to find a rich and warm learning environment; one that begged for exploration through an engaging, colorful classroom, dynamic life lessons, and loving teachers.  

I believe that we found the perfect fit.  During our first Back to School Night, my son’s excited expression and eagerness to highlight every inch of his classroom as well as introduce me once again to his teacher said it all! The school is beaming with life and energy. The teachers are warm, loving and astute. Learning and play time are sandwiched together in a collective and effective mix. It is as every school should be: an environment that excites your senses and makes learning fun.

I left the school event contemplating the importance of education but also appreciating the many teaching opportunities that we encounter regularly as parents. While it is true that I want my children to enjoy school, I also understand that true wisdom is cultivated in the many ordinary and extraordinary experiences of everyday life. Each day provides us with almost limitless opportunities to teach our children. Walking outdoors provides a chance to teach basic ecology, making dinner offers the ability to discuss different cultures, and visiting the grocery store affords basic lessons in mathematics.  The simple truth is that a genuine love of learning can be developed and accelerated by taking advantage of our day to day encounters. After all, life is about learning.

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