A Hallelujah Kind of Childhood

09/14/2023

A Hallelujah Kind of Childhood

A sense of joy in a children’s center can be quiet, loud, gentle, and fun… heard, smelled, and tasted…muddy and dirty…wet and slippery…blue, red, yellow, purple, brown, black, and orange.
Bev Bos, 1934-2016, teacher, author, musician

In the September 1995 issue of Exchange magazine, teacher, author and singer Bev Bos shared her classic wisdom:

The word joy will probably not show up in a curriculum guide. And I don’t hear many politicians using that word when they talk about schools and money and accountability. But those of us working hard to ensure a childhood for so many children know that if we did not hear laughter, giggling, hoopla, shouting, and cheering in our centers we couldn’t go on. It is the joy of each child that keeps us doing what we do.

Pete Seeger talked about how a thoughtless remark to children while they are singing can make them believe they cannot sing. He said: “The heart has a long memory for pain.” That statement gives me a lump in my throat. And because the heart has a very long memory for pain, we must take care, when we are making plans for programs, writing curriculum, when we are deciding what songs to sing, what books to read, what art to do that the element of joy exists. Because learning always involves feelings, we must protect the right of all children to have a hallelujah kind of childhood.

I would love to hear from all of you: What do you believe are the key qualities or foundations of ‘a hallelujah kind of childhood?’ In other words, what do we actually do to create the conditions for joy? Please share your thoughts. We’ll share your reflections back in a future EED.

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.