Flower Arranging

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be an educator in the US today, and particularly an early childhood educator.

And it has me considering the small acts of appreciation that can make a difference when it comes to meaningful work.

Flower arranging was a part of daily life in my Montessori environment, an experience of sensorial discovery and purposeful activity for the child that brought grace, beauty, and interest to our classroom.

It could mean a great deal to an educator - or anybody else deserving of appreciation in your life - to receive a small autumn arrangement.

And it is also a chance for you to show your child how important it is to value the contributions and efforts of others in a consistent way - not just on appreciation days or holidays.

You can do this at home anytime - pick out some flowers at your local farmer’s market, Trader Joes, or a corner deli.

Autumn brings a lot of fascinating textures and tonal colors for you to explore with your child.

How to:

  1. Set up a table with some newsprint to protect the surface, child-safe scissors, a bowl for clippings, and a vase.

  2. Unwrap your flowers and have available in a bucket or in a tidy way on newsprint.

  3. Show your child how to measure the stem against the vase, choosing a height that you find pleasing, and then trimming the stem below your fingers to achieve that height.

  4. Demonstrate consideration and take your time to show your child how to arrange the first few flowers and greens.

  5. Invite your child to continue on with the arrangement. Do not scaffold or interject unless truly necessary. Allow your child to concentrate.

  6. Admire the final creation.

  7. Clean up. Your child can empty the bowl of clippings, wipe off the scissors to clean and dry, and bundle any newsprint or wrapping to place in the recycling or garbage.

  8. Share with someone you want to appreciate.

Repeat this as you like for others you’d be wise to appreciate, to enjoy at home in daily life, and to celebrate special gatherings.

Gestures like this - where you bridge home and school environments as your child shares something small yet meaningful that they created at home - are truly powerful.

They help your child to feel continuity, connection, and contribution. They will help strengthen your child’s relationship with their teachers, their classroom, their school.

Enjoy!

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Weekend Wonder: Leaf Rubbings