Finding Honor in Daily Tasks

04/19/2022

What its children become, that will the community become.
Suzanne La Follette

“Imagine the difference between the early childhood teacher who treats care as drudgery – and the one who treats care as education and honors care as an intellectual exchange.”

So writes Carol Garboden Murray in her popular and important book, Illuminating Care: The Pedagogy of Care in Early Childhood Communities. She explains how daily care tasks (diapering, dressing, eating together…) are often mistakenly devalued, but should be honored:

“Care is the making of humans. Care is the first lesson of love, connection and dependency. Care rituals demonstrate quintessential whole person learning – the integration of mind, body, heart and soul. Care is the origin story we all share.”

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