Module 3: Living Inquiries – Well-Being and Belonging

Joy in Relationships with People, Place, Materials, and Ideas

Children and educators are open to joy and wonder.

Critically Reflective Questions

• Childhood spaces can give “constant rise to wonder and surprise, magic moments and goose bumps, and a source of hope and renewed belief in the world” (Moss, 2013, p.82).
• What does this mean to me?
• Could I use this quote to open discussion with colleagues?
• What brings me joy in my work?
• Can I create ways to extend and build on this joy?
• Children often find joy in their relationships with materials, people, and ideas:
• How might I provide opportunities to extend or build on these joyful encounters?
• Do materials, spaces or rituals/routines invite joyful engagement?
• Are there materials, spaces or rituals/routines that seem to reduce the joy in using them?

Case Study: Joy in relationships with people, place, materials, and ideas

Children in a junior kindergarten class started learning about musical instruments by making drums out of recycled cans and wooden dowels. The children beat the drums to a song they knew and played their own drum solos.

The children seemed to enjoy the music they were making, as they were dancing and laughing.

The class talked about how the children made the drums in the classroom, and the benefits of recycling. The children experimented with the different sounds they could make with the drums.

Reflective Question

Consider your own practice. How might you provide opportunities to engage in joyful encounters with people, materials, and ideas?