Three-year olds think that just about everything is fascinating. For instance, last week our class was outside on the playground when the paper products delivery truck arrived and started to back into a parking spot. Upon hearing the truck's "backing up" beeping noise, one of my boys stopped playing, ran to the center of the playground where most of his classmates had congregated, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Guys! The paper truck is here!!" A great cheer went up and then a stampede of chubby children headed for the front gate as they raced for a front row spot where they could watch the paper delivery man unload his long awaited gifts.
So, although children are easily amused, I had my doubts about their interest in a recent change we made in our classroom. This week we changed our "Space Center" (complete with a walk-in cardboard spaceship) in to a "Flower Shop." I wasn't worried that the girls would like the Flower Shop because they could water the plants, and create pretty arrangements with silk flowers. But I was concerned about the boys. Would the boys be able to keep themselves entertained in a Flower Shop? The answer is Yes. Boys will always find a way.
And this is how my doubts were relieved. In the mornings, before school officially starts, all of the kids play at different centers around the room. Obviously, Flower Shop is the most updated center, and is therefore, the most popular for the time being. I watched as a few boys who were looking through magnifying glasses insisted that they saw snakes burrowed deep in the soil of our potted plants (complements of teacher appreciation week). I thought, "Those poor boys are going to get bored of having a Flower Shop instead of a Space Center." Silly me.
Seeing that all of the students were content for the moment, I turned my attention to some paperwork. I busied myself with sorting through art projects and filing assignments into each child's folder. Then I realized that I hadn't had to referee any arguments in the last minute or two, so I turned around to see what kind of mischief the kids were up to.
I should have been shocked, but I wasn't. Flower Shop was still the busiest center in the room, but no one was looking for snakes in the flower pots anymore. Instead, two satisfied looking boys were standing next to a little girl in a chair who seemed rather uncomfortable. And rightfully so, since she was tied to the chair....
I rushed over to free the captive. "What are you boys doing?!" I asked, as I do everyday. A third little boy who had been kneeling next to the girl stood up (I hadn't seen him because he had been busy on the ground...working on binding her feet to the chair). He appeared to be in charge of the band of ruffians because he wore the sign of leadership over his head: the purple and neon green bug-catching net...the most coveted of toys in the Flower Shop.
"We tied her up," he said, showing no sign of remorse for what he had done.
"She let the butterflies out of the fiery trash can."
He then proceeded to show me the plastic flower pot, meant for housing delicate bouquets, that they had been using as a trash can that burned butterflies (apparently bugs catch on fire once they are cast into the dreaded pot).
The little girl had been moved to action by the boys' cruelty and tried to save the innocent butterflies. But her courageous act of kindness led to her capture. And I must admit, even though none of the boys actually knew how to tie a knot, they did a pretty good job of keeping their prisoner secured. (It took me minute to work with the string before I was able to release the little girl into the free world again).
I am no longer concerned about whether or not the boys in our classroom will be able to find ways of entertaining themselves in the Flower Shop, or anywhere else for that matter. I will never doubt again.
