The Gift of Reflection

Parent meetings where I talk with parents about their children, their children’s learning and development, and their parenting have always been really enjoyable for me. Watching video tape of children as they go through their day at school and discussing what we observe is always lots of fun as well.

Over the past few years, I have tried to focus each of these meetings on a topic that I have recently read about or has come up in my reflections on the teaching and learning that happens at CPSC. The other day some parents of infants and I talked about attachment, stranger anxiety, and the development of independence. We watched film of babies and how they responded when someone other than their trusted teachers were in the room. It was a lively and interesting discussion about a fairly complicated set of issues.

As I walked back to CPSC from the meeting I realized that I had learned a lot at that over the past hour. The opportunity to discuss some issues I had been thinking about with parents who also really cared about them gave me the time to reflect with others on one dimension of infant development. It left me feeling like I had the opportunity to further my own understanding of infant development and refined some ideas about how to help us all improve in the handling children’s issues around bonding and venturing out on their own.

I feel so very fortunate to have all the opportunities for continued professional growth that come to me at CPSC. This work truly never gets old! I can always find people with whom to discuss and learn about children’s development. And that communication and shared learning leaves me very satisfied!