Have you been in a kindergarten class lately? It is amazing how much energy and joy these little tykes have! If a room of 12-15 busy five year olds can have a simple and sustainable order, we can learn a few lessons there.
- Take off your coat. A cubby at the entrance to class is the place to store coat, hat, boots, umbrellas… anything that might encumber a kindergartner’s learning and play.
Lesson: Set aside the hard things that you can do nothing about right now. Clear your mind for a more productive day with the people/tasks that are in front of you. - Do one thing at a time. The kindergarten room is set up with activity zones: reading nook, painting corner, building block central, cars and trucks, the kitchen, etc. Children are encouraged to choose ONE activity at a time.
Lesson: Focus on the one thing you are doing. Be in the moment. Think of what you can be grateful for in the activity that is at hand and do your best in your NOW.
- Put toys away. Each activity zone is planned with storage that makes it fun and easy to put things back where they belong. Puzzle racks, low shelves for blocks, bins for cars make it easy to keep like toys together.
Lesson: Gather and store supplies where they will be used for a specific purpose (writing letters, doing laundry, paying bills.) Always put supplies away before moving to another area for another task. - Share with others. Don’t fight over the best toys and take turns serving snack.
Lesson: Share joys and windfalls. Share chores and heavy hearts. Don’t go it alone. The person who thinks he or she is indispensible is either deluded or arrogant. - Be kind. Don’t hit Johnnie over the head. No name calling.
Lesson: Always speak the truth, but say it with love in a way that your words can be received. Don’t say everything you think; you just might be wrong sometime. Be kind to yourself first. You are of no use to others if you allow yourself to get run down. Take time to be refreshed. For some that means alone time. Others want to party with friends to regain energy.
Strange, isn’t it, how much of life is elemental? We can still learn a lot from children both at home and in the office!
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