Gratitude in Our Spaces

Gratitude in Our Spaces

How we nurture thankfulness at Bright Eyes, this Thanksgiving and all year long

We often think of our spaces as children's entry point into conversations about the big topics we face together. But after talking with the children in our preschool about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and why we wear orange on September 30, we saw just how amazing families are at sharing big, complex topics at home.

Starting with a question

We entered the conversation with a question rather than an answer: Why do we wear orange shirts today? The answers ranged from "because today is Orange Shirt Day" to "because a long time ago, there were people that were told they couldn't be with their families." This showed us that families are talking about these topics, and that our place is to leave space for the children's thinking to be heard.

We followed up by asking: What does it mean to be fair? The children had some really interesting thinking. In their world, fairness was about size, sharing toys, or having more or less than someone else. Now, in our practice, we can use words like fair, equal and your voice to give more context to these big concepts. The power that language, connected with context, has in our children's lives cannot be underestimated.

Thanksgiving in our spaces

As we approach another holiday, we've been thinking about what this weekend might mean for the children. A long weekend means an extra day filled with family love. For some, Thanksgiving means time with extended family and friends, gathering for a meal and sharing in the coziness of the season. For others, this weekend won't hold a special meaning at home, and that's okay too.

So how do we pass on the message of Thanksgiving within our spaces? As we shared in our last post, these days don't live solely on the calendar. They mean more, and they live on in our spaces long after October 12. Gratitude and giving thanks are core values we hope to pass on to every child at Bright Eyes Academy. We show this daily in the words we share with the children, in the gratitude we express to them and their families, and by highlighting their actions with words.

What gratitude sounds like, at every age

• With our youngest children, it looks like noticing and naming their acts of thanks: "Look at your happy eyes as I pass you your apple slices. You're saying thank you with your smile! You're welcome!"
• With our 3- to 5-year-olds, it's drawing connections to what their peers are sharing: "Look how offering for your friend to play made her smile! She's excited and happy to be included. Her smile is saying thank you!" It's also offering a gentle prompt when a child could show gratitude: "When you enjoy playing with your friends, you can tell them, 'I'm having so much fun with you on the playground today!'"
• With our older children, the same ideas grow with them: bringing awareness to the people around them, and a gentle nudge to share their gratitude with the people in their spaces.

Gratitude is modelled, not just taught

Even more powerful than these words is how we, as educators and the big people in a child's world, show up in gratitude ourselves. We model these comments and a gracious way of being within our space. We acknowledge when we're grateful for the actions of the children and those around us. We extend our thanks to children when they show up in ways that bring delight to our space, and when we are all together in a way that reflects the community we want to uphold.

Bringing it home

Whatever your weekend looks like, here are a few simple ways to practise gratitude together, from the littlest family members to the oldest:

• Say it out loud. "Thank you for helping me set the table. It made dinner feel special." Children learn the most from hearing us.
• Start a gratitude jar. Each person adds one thing they're thankful for each day.
• Share "one good thing" at dinner or bedtime.
• Connect across generations. Help your child call, draw a picture for, or "interview" a grandparent or older neighbour about what they're thankful for.
• Make a thankful placemat or card for someone special.

From all of us at Bright Eyes Academy, thank you for sharing your children with us. Happy Thanksgiving!