Little Miss Elf and Safety

I think that one of the best bits about teaching is the fact that children are very funny.  I worry that in some schools they are losing their sense of humour… inspections, tests and an overcrowded curriculum can glaze the mind so we forget to live in the moment and respond to what that moment brings.  Anyway I’m very lucky because I can go in and work with children and do what I love best which is Circle Time – and playing Circle Time Games!  Circle Time is a glorious mix of games, debate, make believe, drama and fun.

The other day, during a Circle Time Game, I was in the middle of the circle walking around pretending to be a little girl who did not have a friend.  Up sprung a Year 1 child to my rescue, who asked if I would like to play with her.  I was delighted and told her that I had been waiting for a friend for a long time because my aunty from America had sent me an incredible long skipping rope which, when you turn it with a friend, sparks come out.  My eyes were alight with excitement when, as a little girl, I handed her the imaginary rope.  Imaginary rope.  She took the end of the rope but looked me straight in the eye and said, “No”.  Puzzled, I said, “What do you mean, ‘No’”?  “We cannot play with fire in the playground”.  Staying within the metaphor, I said “Ah, but it will be so beautiful – showers of gorgeous sparks for us to skip through”.  “No”.  Floored, I resorted to coming out of the metaphor and pleading, “But it’s only imaginary – we’re just pretending!”.  “No… I don’t care, I don’t want to give any of these children any ideas”.  There is no doubt that this child is going to make the best Elf and Safety Officer that’s ever walked a playground!!!

Website Manager’s Notes
1. Jenny Mosley runs successful and transformative positive behaviour for learning, circle time and social skills, early years and lunchtimes and playtimes training

See our forthcoming Open Training Conferences.

2. Many schools and Early Years settings book Jenny Mosley for a training day, conference or a Working In School Day. Without shutting the school, Jenny holds staff meetings, observable circle times with pupils, works in the dining hall and playgrounds and feeds back everything to staff via meetings. For enquiries about Working in School Days, please phone 01225 767157 or email circletime@jennymosley.co.uk. (Many schools follow a WISD day with an INSET day so that they can fully work through the ideas with Jenny.) Read more about Jenny Mosley’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Training.

3. Jenny has just written a very handy new little book for Circle Time called, “Jenny Mosley’s Top Tips for Circle Time Games“.

4. For all other resources related to positive behaviour, circle time, lunchtimes, playtimes and calm dining halls, please see our website shop.