Grazing-Just a Thought

Grazing

I heard the strangest comment the other day from a student teacher who came for a tour of our centre.

She'd recently attended a workshop and was told that children should be free to graze all day.

What could that possibly mean I wondered?

Are they cattle?

She went on to tell me that grazing basically meant they should be able to do whatever they wanted, to be uninterrupted in their play.

That made sense because we advocate for uninterrupted experiences.

She then went on to tell me that it also meant that they could eat lunch standing up as they continued to work uninterrupted.

Then I thought that just makes no sense at all.

What sort of life lessons are we imparting to children when we set  no boundaries or guidelines for some sort of order in their day.

Meal time is not only about nourishing our bodies it is also about nourishing our souls. It is a time to gather with family and peers to shares our stories.

There is a time for everything in life, a time to play, a time to eat, a time to rest, and a time to venture.

Perhaps this was just a misinterpretation on the part of the student. 

I can't say for certain.

I understand that everyone is grappling with how learning happens, incorporating the four foundations, the Reggio Approach, inspired learning,

but we must stay grounded, remain focused and not forget that great work happens within guidelines.

Children need some structure in their lives, this gives them a sense of control in knowing what comes next,

 and it supports self regulation. A school without these guidelines is chaotic and fraught with behavior issues. 

So no, children should not be free to graze all day long.