Well that is not entirely correct because my five year old,
who was so excited to put on her costume for Purim and has talked about nothing
else for weeks, woke up this morning in tears refusing to put on her unicorn
costume. Today is the day where her
school is celebrating Purim. Purim is a
Jewish holiday where we celebrate the ‘backwardsness’ of the world. It is the day where the underdog wins and
therefore we celebrate by mixing everything up.
Children come to school in costume, there is a special
carnival, we walk around with noisemakers (as if a classroom with twenty
children isn’t noisy on its own), the children eat ridiculous amounts of
unhealthy food, the list goes on. To
many, this is a really fun and exciting day but to a small--sometimes hidden minority,
days like this are the worst days of the year.
Children thrive on routine.
From a young age we know that the best nighttime sleep comes from a
fixed schedule. Bath, brush teeth, book,
song, lights out. For many first time
parents this ritual is so sacred it carries an almost superstitious air. If one of those steps is missed, one piece
isn’t just right, they are doomed to a night of crying and consoling. So fast-forward five years and zoom in on this
same child. He is now expected to be
excited about a day where everything is backwards? Everything he knows will now be changed, and
he is supposed to enjoy this? How can we help children who crave this routine
to succeed on a day like Purim?
Step 1: Preview. For children who crave routine, it is key to
preview what the day will be like. What
pieces of their routine will be switched, and what will remain the same? Will they still be under the watchful eye of
their teachers or will they be having a substitute? Will they be with their classmates, or is it
going to be a different grouping of children for the day?
Step 2: Know your
students. As we plan for changes in
a school schedule, we must think about what will really enhance the students’
experience. Does it really add to the
celebration if we switch classrooms or cubbies for the day? At what age is this fun, and when is it just
confusing? How loud is it going to be,
how many children are going to be in the same room? Have some noise canceling headphones on hand
for kids to wear if they are so inclined.
Put yourself in their shoes as you plan and be mindful of every child.
Step 3: Think of ‘opt
out’ options. In the same vein as
planning the classroom celebrations with your students in mind, think about
alternative plans for the students who can’t participate fully. What would make this day special for children
who need to be in a quiet, more controlled environment? Let the children know a
‘back up plan’ and a ‘check in spot’ that they can always go to when they need
a break.
On a day like Purim it is easy for us to get caught up in
the fun. As an adult, the break in
routine is welcomed and refreshing, but as with everything else in school we
need to think about the children in front of us and how these days will affect
every last one of them.
