In support of children utilizing empathy to make connections to peers and materials, the teachers worked in small groups and provoked them with emotionally evocative images in the West Wing Mini Studio.
An image of a boy crying was shared.
Teacher Silvana begins the conversation; “How is this boy feeling?”
Andrew responds in sadness to the image; “He’s crying because somebody won’t play with him.”
Asha involves herself in the conversation, offering a frustrated point of view, “Or maybe he is yelling at someone and saying ‘I want to play with somebody!’”
Ben H. recalls a personal experience that left him sad and tearful; “His mommy and daddy left him alone.”
Charlie S.’s perceptive of the subtle shift from theoretical to personal experiences relates a story of fear; “I was sad last night. I was crying and calling for Fina because I thought monsters were going to come to my room and open the door and eat me. I stopped crying when my dad got home and he hugged me.”
Asha, in an effort to empathize with Charlie S. and soothe her friend with a different view on monsters says; “I saw a monster, but it made me happy. It was friendly.”
Analyzing this dialogue, the teachers find that being alone is the scenario that brings about expressions of sadness, fear and frustration in the children’s experiences. Tears also become the vehicle to express these various emotions.
We wonder if fear, sadness, and frustration come about by finding oneself alone and if so, can we invite a more peaceful state of mind if we investigate this state of loneliness together?
We will begin with introducing self awareness and propose the question: What do I look like when I’m feeling like this? – Kris and Silvana