Owning the Space

Adults generally keep everything ready for children. We keep the space clean and arrange everything for them. They come and do activities or eat or play. I decided instead of taking the stress of deciding, planning, cleaning and preparing all by myself, how about co-creating with all the members present in the camp? It was interesting to see on the first day that we had no lengthy discussions or instructions and when children came they joined willingly in the setting up and cleaning the space.

Everyday we all come together and co create the space. It starts from opening the lock. One  child takes the key from me and opens the gate and the door. We all patiently wait for the child  to open the lock. Together we clean the space, arrange the materials and plan the day. We have listed the work to be done before we start our day and everyone picks what they want to do from that list. Some sweep, some get water to mop, some mop, some help to pick the dust, some fill and supply water some water the plants. There is no easy, difficult, elder or younger in doing. We just choose and do. If we are stuck we ask for help. We all take the equal ownership of the space.

I have observed that when children are trusted and included in the responsibilities, they accept it with all the feelings exploring, newness, challenging, boring, frustrating, exciting and much more. We don't have to make it work fun for them. When they are involved they create fun for themselves. 

Below is the conversation between the mother and the child. The child is eager to reach the camp before everyone.  

Before joining Discover me
Mom: Get up, it's getting late! The hot water is ready.
Child: I need 10 more mins to be fresh. I am unable to open my eye, close the curtain.. 
Now
Mom : I am going down to login, talk to you after my meeting.
After an hour,  she gets ready on her own and comes  down.
Child: Mamma, I have to go early to clean up the space, so by the time all the kids arrive, the space is tidy and we can play right away!

 



Comments

  1. UnknownApril 5, 2021 at 10:51 PM

    That's been a wonderful learning. Teaching accountability and responsibility will help develop self management and self confidence..

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sujani CApril 6, 2021 at 7:45 AM

    Wonderful.. Lot of learning ..equally sharing responsibility... Good keep it going 👏👏👏👏❤❤❤❤❤

    ReplyDelete
  3. hosachetanaApril 20, 2021 at 2:04 AM

    Creating the sense of ownership in them at an early age is an awesome thought. Grownups in their daily life have so many discussions and remainders about this sense of ownership and many still can't understand the importance 😊

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sharing the load

Image
PROBLEM: Mom cribbing, complaining, and feeling overwhelmed with all the work at home. SOLUTION(by a teenager): Let us bring understanding and share responsibilities WHAT & HOW: We will decide in the meeting WHEN: Sunday 8 pm ACTION:  We all listed down the chores to be done on a daily basis. Work were put in 4 groups. Everyone chose the work they want to do. There were agreeing, disagreeing, argument, commitment etc during this discussion.    OUTCOME:   Mom relaxed Chores divided Some reminders had to be given All are following as they commited Happy, peaceful and fight free zone NEXT MEET: after a week.
Read more

1st week of May Fun and Learning

Image
1st week of Fun and Learning in May.  Day 1  - Fun and learning started with playing game and listing down things we want to explore. Games are one way to build connection...it happens instantly even among the strangers.  Usually when children come to a session there is a readymade curriculum/list of activities which are planned. We had not planned any curriculum. We discussed and co created with children. We decided what to do this week.  The task was they had to list 5 things that they want to do and then convince others…. Sell their ideas to the whole group. Somehow we adults think we know more or we can plan better. We were surprised (as always) with the varied list of things children wanted to do. There was nothing stopping them…. even the barriers of having the session online. The list included Jokes, share knowledge, talk about likes/dislikes, drawing, play, dance, online games, craft, games, make your games, Craft, own crea...
Read more

Lacing around

 Aunt: Wohoooo! you got a new shoe. Look at that its amazingly bright. I love the pink and orange patches on your shoes. Oh it has lace. Do you know how to tie lace.  Boy: No (looking at the lace) Aunt: Do you want to try it yourself Boy: ahhhh! (sounding lost, still fiddling with lace) Aunt: Ok looks like you need help of the expert! Ahem! thats me Boy: Can you teach me? (with wide and bright eyes) Aunt: Ofcourse, ok lets start.  1st step : wear your shoes 2nd step : hold both the threads in your hands, No not like that one with your right hand and one lace with your left hand. 3rd step: Make a X  4th step: make the lace in the right hand go inside the loop you have made by making the X. 5th step: Pull that lace with right hand, Now you have got a not. If you pull both sides it will tighten. If you keep pully it will tighten and tighten and tighten Now the 6th step is we make one inverted U on left and one inverted U on right... it will look like a butterfly or a bo...
Read more