My international contact this week comes from India by way of Swati Popat Vats. She is an educator, author, educational entrepreneurs, parenting expert and nature advocate. She understands learning as something not restricted to schools but part of everyday living. She is president of the Early Childhood Association. She emailed this week. This is the website: www.eca-india.org that tells about the organization.
She sent me a PDF document about the “War and Peace Project.” I thought there might be a way to insert into the blog to share, but my technology skills need much prayer. It explains War and Peace as being both abstract concepts for young children. Social development at this age is still a work in progress. Ideas like war or fighting and making peace, and solving problems are difficult for some 5 to 6 year olds who participated in the project.
It was interesting that none of the children who participated knew about war. They were able to explain it to fighting, swords, bombs, and army. But when asked about peace, they only knew about piece, pieces and peas. Their drawings illustrated pizza piece, pieces of chocolate, green peas, and glass pieces.
Feel free to check out her blog: http://www.swatipopatvatskiducation.blogspot.in
Hi Audrey,
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you were able to make an international contact in India. I was able to make one in Australia. I found it fascinating that young children knew details about war (fighting, bombs, army), but not what it meant. They did not know about peace either. It is amazing how children are able to adapt to their situations. I look forward to hearing more about our contact.
Cindy Rube