NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR
Viewing children as competent and capable
We believe children are competent and capable human beings at Blue Leaf®. One of the ways we put that belief into practice is by inviting children to participate in the everyday routines of getting ready to go outside and caring for their things. This becomes especially important as the seasons change. At Blue Leaf®, we don’t wait for perfect weather before heading outdoors. There is no such thing as bad weather, only being appropriately dressed. Rain, snow, cold, wind, mud, and sunshine all offer children different opportunities to learn from experiencing the natural world. Getting ready to go outside is more than something adults do for children. It is part of the learning, as care is the curriculum.
Even our infants can participate in getting ready to go outside. They may not be putting on their own shoes or jacket yet, but some can help gather what they need. They can reach for their shoes, hold onto a hat or help push an arm into a sleeve. A child who reaches toward their jacket is communicating, and a child who lifts a foot when we bring over a shoe is participating. These small moments are meaningful.
In RIE®, we slow down enough to let children be active participants in their own care. Rather than quickly doing everything for a child, we invite them into the process: “I’m going to help put your jacket on. Here’s your arm. (while gently tapping the arm you are referencing) Can you help me find the sleeve?” We give children time to respond. We narrate what we are doing. We lean into their capability even when they cannot yet do the task independently. As children become toddlers, their participation grows. A toddler can help find their shoes, carry their jacket, sit down to put on shoes, and start figuring out how their body fits into their clothing.
We can say:
“It’s time to go outside. Can you find your shoes?”
“This shoe goes on this foot, and this one goes on this foot.” (Placing the shoes next to the correct feet.)
“Here is your jacket. Let’s find the opening together.” (Helping them set up “arms in and flip”)
“You got your foot in! Now let’s see if we can get your heel all the way in.”
Sometimes this takes longer. Sometimes a child gets frustrated. Sometimes the jacket ends up upside down three times before it finally works. That’s okay, as the struggle is part of learning. Our role is not to remove every challenge. Our role is to provide the right amount of support so that children can experience the satisfaction of figuring something out for themselves and become more autonomous.
By the preschool years, children are capable of taking on significantly more responsibility for their outdoor gear. Preschoolers can work toward putting on their own jackets, shoes, hats, and other outdoor clothing. They can take their gear off when they come inside and often put it away in its designated place.
When a preschooler puts their own belongings away, they are contributing to the functioning of the classroom. When they notice that their boots are wet and need to be put on the shoe tray, they are developing awareness and responsibility. When they work through the frustration of a stubborn zipper, they are practicing persistence. These are the small, everyday experiences through which competence develops.
As adults, it can be tempting to step in because we can do it faster. We can put on a jacket in seconds. We can zip the zipper. We can find the missing shoe. But if we always do these things for children, we communicate, however unintentionally, “I can do this better than you.” At Blue Leaf®, we try to pause and observe before helping. Can they do this independently? What parts can they do? Can I offer a small amount of assistance without taking over? Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the child genuinely needs our help. Both are okay.
RIE does not ask us to force independence. It asks us to recognize competence and give children opportunities to participate. There is a beautiful progression from “I’m doing this for you,” to “We’re doing this together,” to “You can do this yourself.” Our job is to notice where each child is on that journey and meet them there. Then, once everyone is bundled up and ready, we head outside-into the cold, the mud, the snow, the puddles, the sunshine, and all the wonderful possibilities the natural world has to offer.
Allowing children the opportunity to participate in their care, they are naturally learning and becoming more capable every day.
