BY BETH PINYERD
CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
OPINION —
My little dog, Cookie, keeps this fur Mom on a regular routine and schedule. At 6 a.m. she wakes me up for her morning walk. She and I go through the seasons of early morning walks which I love as I see the light of the sun rising and hear the early morning birds chirping away. This is the time even with sleepy eyes I look upon God’s beautiful world and pray in gratitude, “Today is going to be a good day.” In the winter, the sun shines brightly on the frozen grass blanketed with frost as Cookie and I make our way on our daily morning walk. Even though some trees and plants look dormant, Cookie and I see a little yellow or purple clover trying to peek out its petals as they bloom even in the cold winter. In the wintry mix we might catch a glimpse of snowflakes, which reminds us that no two snowflakes are alike. Each snowflake is unique and different just like children as it tells us in the Bible in Psalm 139:14 — I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Upon entering the early childhood and elementary classroom, coats, sweaters, caps are hanging on hooks and coloring pictures of snowmen and round paper snowflakes decorate the classrooms. As teachers we realize that winter can be a challenge with teaching and encouraging our students because this season can have winter blues or blahs in trying to get going but I am in awe at how children truly meet the day with smiles in seeing their friends and embarking on a day of learning. An enjoyable early childhood lesson is for children to listen to good winter books. Two books which have won my heart in teaching children about sharing, friendship, and getting along are “Cozy” by Jan Brett and “The Mitten” by Jan Brett. Cozy is a musk ox who lives in Alaska who has very soft fur. A snowstorm hits Cozy while he is separated from his family. Loneliness begins to set in but not very long because different forest animals begin to realize just how warm Cozy’s fur is, so they get his permission to burrow into his soft fur to stay warm and protected from the winter elements. Animals such as lemmings, snowshoe hare, snowy owl, artic fox and wolverine begin to settle into the comfort of Cozy’s fur. All these animals learn to share the warmth of Cozy’s Fur.
“The Mitten,” which is a Ukrainian folktale of a mitten lost by a young boy named Nicki, carries the theme of sharing among animals who need a winter home. Animals big and small make the mitten their host home, and they must learn to get along. I have used these two books as a winter theme for friendship and kindness with my young students.
In thinking about winter, children truly love helping in preparing a warm bowl of soup. For early childhood, I love to read “Surprise Soup” by Mary Ann Rodman and illustrated by G. Brian Karas. This is a wonderful book about sibling relationships in which siblings work together to put just the right ingredients in the soup to surprise their Mama and new baby. The children see how the father, older brother and younger brother come together, and by trial and error put in the best ingredients.
Including children in a cooking measurements lesson, parents and teachers can also teach about life ingredients in presenting the Fruit of The Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 — But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Children respond so well to learning and applying these truths. I would like to review these.
- Take a gallon of love. This ingredient is one we need so much of. Children love to sing songs of love for each other. As parents as teachers of children we are so blessed to be unconditionally hugged and hearing the words, “I Love you.”
- Sprinkle in a dash of joy. Children love to clap, sing and laugh. In teaching toddlers, I realize just how fresh they are from Heaven in feeling the love of God. When we are happy it is conditioned by and often dependent on what is “happening to us” but joy is truly a divine dimension not shackled by circumstances.
- Be sure to weigh out a pound of peace. Sharing and getting along with family, siblings and friends promote peace. It takes time to listen to each other’s needs and contributions. Forgiveness is also a key ingredient.
- Throwing in a pinch of patience is such a necessary ingredient in the fast-paced world. In the early childhood classroom, patience is practiced daily. When young students wait their turns to interact in learning centers, answer questions during lessons, line up to go outside or go to the lunchroom, patient skills are practiced. These patient skills can be practiced and encouraged in families by praise when children are showing patient behavior. Children are so encouraged when we notice they are trying so hard, and we praise them in practicing patience.
- Pour in a cup of kindness. Kindness is learned by children when we adults teach not only by our words but by our actions.
- Measure out a tablespoon of goodness which is doing what is right in the sight of the Lord and man. It is simply doing what is right for the right reason. Making a practice of outreaching to others in goodness to others overrides bitterness and leads to forgiveness and joy.
- Pouring out a quart of faithfulness is love hanging on. Children love to pray. With their young hearts, they believe in prayer. They trust and know that God will keep His promises.
- Pour in a pint of gentleness. When we think of gentleness we think of humility, lack of pride and mercy. Children seem to understand this when given examples of thinking of other people first and how to help them. It is a wonderful sight to see when children help each other.
- A bowl of self-control rounds out the flavor of this recipe. Self-control for children means that they obey and submit to their parents, teachers and rules.
During the winter, maintaining a consistent bedtime and wake up time for your children facilitates a smoother morning schedule. In the winter it is a challenge for children to get up in the morning. Establish a consistent morning routine by planning and preparing the night before, like packing backpacks, preparing lunches, setting out school clothes, shoes, etc. Use sound to wake up your children by setting an alarm clock, radio or phone alarm. Setting a music alarm with your child’s favorite songs makes waking up more pleasant. I am so thankful for my fur buddy little dog who is my alarm every morning to meet the day.
Readers stay warm and happy.