Topics in Early Childhood Education

Monday, November 26, 2007

A Visit from Two Princesses


We had Thanksgiving at our house this year. Three of my grandchildren came and with my grandson in the highchair it was necessary to create a 'kids table' for my two granddaughters. I remember the dreaded 'kids table' from my own youth. We took a different approach this time. We created a princess table, complete with flowing tablecloth, silver goblets, a candelabra and gold flatware. When they arrived, my granddaughters were the princesses of the day and only the royalty could sit at the princess table. It worked wonderfully and I had two granddaughters on Thanksgiving who were thankful for peasants to cater to their needs.

9 Comments:

At 8:25 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I too remember being at the dreaded "kid's" table during thanksgiving or another big meal. It is important to consider the way we make children feel sometimes and adapt situations according to their needs. It sounds like your grandchildren had a wonderful time!
Lori S.
2330 -2

 
At 12:35 PM, Blogger Amber Lea said...

At our Thanksgiving the kids table was never dreaded. In fact, I'm still kicking and screaming to stay at the kids table. At the grown up table you had to act proper, have intelligent conversation and use the best manners. At the kid's table, even today, we can use bad manners, make crude jokes, share chairs, skimp on the green beans and talk about video games. I hope I never have to grow up.

Amber C

 
At 5:37 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really loved this take on the kid's table. I hated not being able to sit in on the grown up conversation and really felt unimportant sitting at the unsturdy card table. What is really sad is even though I am older I still have to sit at the kids table cuz I am still the youngest child and there still isn't room. I bet your grandaughters had a blast, and they are so lucky tp have someone as awesome as you for a grandpa. I really hope that you will be teaching the international lit class. We need teachers like you to show us how it is done, and how to make teaching fun and interesting. You really have a gift of teaching to the young and old. Please continue to share it even if it is not teaching children's lit to future teachers. Thanks for an awesome class of things that are vital to future generations, and for helping me to find my love of reading again.

-Alies

 
At 5:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love Thanksgiving! It is great how you worked out the seating arrangementwith your gradkids! This year was my first Thanksgiving being married. We spent the holiday with my husbands side of the family. We graduated to the "married" table. It was a fun new experience.
Dahlia Carter
2330-2

 
At 5:40 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

I loved Thanksgiving at my house. I actually enjoyed the "kids" table. I have a really big family so when my family got together it meant that I got to see my cousins from out of town. I didn't mine sitting at the "kids" table because none of the parents would bother all of us little ones. It seems like your granddaughters had a wonderful time and I liked how you created the princess table in order to make things a little more exciting for the kids.
Tejal Bhakta
Children's Literature
Section 2

 
At 6:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It seems like you had a great Thanksgiving. Your grand daughters are so cute. I remember when i was younger and all the kids had to sit at a different table. I think it's a great idea that you created that princess theme for your grandchildren.
Amanda R

 
At 9:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Every year, once a year, everyone in my family that lives in Utah gathers at my aunt’s house for our traditional Thanksgiving meal. Our family isn't humongous but we still have a grown-ups table and a kiddy table, although everyone is now into their teens (plus some) except for one, the youngest child, who is now eight years old. The thing is that we love our kiddy table because it’s the only time the entire year that we see each other and talk to each other. We don’t like the grown-ups table because when you sit there you have to and I mean you HAVE TO speak either Vietnamese or Cantonese, otherwise you don’t speak. At the kid’s table, we get to use English, which we’re all much more comfortable communicating with. I suppose my family is bit dysfunctional because we only see each other that one day out of an entire year, but at the same time, I think it keeps us sane…

Angee D

2330-01

 
At 2:30 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I as well, loved this princess themes idea!! What a great way to make the occasion special for everyone. Little children are so impressionable, and it is so nice to see them come alive when they are treated as grown ups. I think this is a fabulous way to incorporate learning, creativity, and good old fun experiences.
Candice SOrensen
2330

 
At 7:58 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

That was a very clever idea! I think often times children don’t feel as though they are being acknowledged at the same level as an adult would be. It’s great when you can present a child with a fun idea which will make them feel more mature.

Your Thanksgiving blog reminded me of an incident that occurred a few days after Thanksgiving. I was reading a picture book to a 4 year old I baby-sit. She pointed to a picture of a live turkey in the story and exclaimed, “Whoa! He looks like a real feast!” It’s moments like that which make me realize young children are cleverer than adults may give them credit for.

Andrea M
2330-1

 

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