Childhood innocence. What a beautiful time for a child…even for adults who are willing to be a part of a little person’s life. This past week I got some good daily doses of living in the world of young minds…no cluttered worries….lots of pretend play….embracing life through eyes that only see beauty in everything and once in a while a few tears, too. My week began as usual on Monday and quickly escalated with being called to substitute in our church’s preschool program–seems a nasty virus had made its way through the children collided with the teachers and took them out like a big avalanche carving its path down a mountainside….so, four days this week I spent several hours with three and four year olds which I admit is outside my comfort zone but let me tell you, it was pure joy. I’d like to share some of the things I enjoyed while being with these precious lil humans.

Tuesday’s colder weather gave us our first dusting of snow in our community. That day I was in class with three year olds and they were so excited to go outside on the playground. In order to do so, that meant snow pants, jackets, boots, hats and mittens. Their teacher gave them loving instructions as to what order to put them on….first your snow pants….then your boots….then your jacket….then your hat…then your mittens. Sounds simple, right? The chaos in the hallway getting their gear on was fun to watch as some had listened…others obviously had been distracted, evidenced by the order they were putting on each item…mittens were scattered along with hats as their teacher and I played investigators finding rightful owners. Nothing could have drowned out the “Teacher, I need help!” that filled the air. We made it to the playground and watched the kids catch snowflakes on their tongues….make tiny snowballs to throw “at the wall but not at your friends”….witness little white cheeks turn rosy pink from the crisp wintry air….returning inside just in time for moms, dads, grandmas to take their treasures home.

One of my favorite times during the preschool day is their morning circle time. It’s encouraging to watch and listen as jobs are assigned….learning which day of the month it is and counting down to it…standing to say the Pledge of Allegiance…and listening to a story….me giggling as 12 little people sit on their bottoms, some quite still…others that HAVE to fidget…have a hand raised continuously because they have something very important to share like Wednesday morning when I was in with a group of 4 year olds…their teacher was explaining a new playground rule and when she finished numerous hands shot up in the air! In response to hearing that one of their “friends” had bumped his head, well, several of them had their own war wound stories to share….I had to turn my face when a girl informed us “my gramma had to get a shot in her butt one time”….alrighty then, sweetheart. Thanks for sharing that.

Heading down to a large group activity with those same four year olds I was at the rear of their line when one of the boys turned around to tell me “Luke just farted”. Oh my. The fascination with bodily functions starts early. Truthfully–farting stories are still a popular topic in my family. Everyone loves a good fart story, right?

Perhaps the sweetest moment I had with the four year olds was during their free play. A few of the kids built a long tubular tower from hollow connecting pieces. Their goal was to “touch the ceiling” but they didn’t have enough pieces to accomplish the task. Not to be disappointed, they found a couple of marbles to launch from the top of the tower and listen as it rattled its way down to the floor. Giggles galore as they yelled “Look, Miss Amy. Look, Miss Sue! Look at what we made!” They laughed when they realized Miss Sue wasn’t tall enough to launch the marble…belly chuckles continued as they found out Miss Amy could reach because “she’s bigger than you Miss Sue!” Plastic towers that wobble and two marbles that make a clickety clack were very entertaining. No electronics needed here, right?

Who knew that Hershey Kiss candies were a prized goal to achieve? Not me for sure, until I was asked by one sweet girl during nap time “Will I get a Hershey Kiss?”

“I don’t know”, I replied. “How do you get one of those?”

“We have to rest or be very quiet, those are our two options”. Options? Do most four year olds know what that word means let alone use it properly? Naptime continued with my little I Want A Hershey Kiss girl wiggling about on her cot, doing her best to rest and be quiet….they all got a Hershey Kiss at the end of the day. It’s the small things, right?

Preschoolers are busy little people. They play hard…they are easily distracted….they are all so much alike while still being individuals. There are those that go straight to the dress up clothes…who doesn’t want to be a princess or a mermaid? Others assemble a race or train track to play with cars and all kinds of vehicles until clean up time. Creative cooks bring plastic food to “here, try this Miss Sue, I made it just for you”....maybe one or two sit quietly at the coloring table and get lost in their own small world creating masterpieces of art. Will their drawings go on the fridge at home for all to see? I hope so.

A week being with three and four year olds was exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time….could I do school with them every day?…admittedly, that would be a true stretch of my usually comfortable routine I’ve built for myself…yet, I can honestly say I wouldn’t trade this week for all the quiet days at home for anything. Where else would I be asked ever so honestly “why do you have makeup?”  or told “I don’t have to do what you tell me”.…

“I like makeup” and “Yes, yes, you do need to do what I tell you young sir”. They learn to challenge us early, right? And that’s why all of them are in preschool. Life is simple. Sit still. Listen. Play. Rest. Do all this and get a Hershey Kiss. When I came home these past three days I took a nap after my lunch. I was quiet. I didn’t wiggle around. But, when I woke up  I didn’t have anyone to give me a Hershey Kiss….darn.