By LaToya C. Dawkins 

 

There will never be enough books, advice, or examples when it comes to children. They are the most innocent and unique humans on this earth. They have not been impacted by the blotchy realism of life or stained by impartiality. However, the literature available warns those who impact children to avoid those negative words or actions that can change their world forever and provide them with a life filled with exuberant color.

 

Red, the warmest of all colors, is symbolic of the warmth and love our preschoolers need. I once heard a teacher say to a crying preschooler, “I know, being three is hard.” I would definitely agree. Though to us molding playdough and building a tower are not difficult tasks, preschoolers also have the anxiety of fitting into the mold of our lives and preconceptions. Living in a world filled with stubborn adults that have rigid schedules cannot possibly be easy. Taking the time out to shower preschoolers with love and affirmation could make living in our world much easier for them. Like the many variations of the color red, variations of expressing love can impact preschoolers even in the slightest ways.

 

Yellow, the brightest of all the colors, represents happiness and joy. One of my students recently discovered that they are able to reach the light in the bathroom. They have been waiting a long time to reach this accomplishment. Each day she turns to me and smiles because she can reach it and I clap and say, “Great job.” Preschoolers love to see us get happy over their accomplishments and who they are. Their yearn for us to shed a little sunshine in their lives. The special thing about the color yellow is though it is a primary color, it works great as an additive with other colors; therefore, happiness and joy works well at all times.

 

Blue, the coolest of all the colors, denotes calmness, peace, and even protection. Preschoolers are packed with energy. They can run and play beyond their own exhaustion, however when they are scared or sad they benefit from the calmness we can provide. I once had a student who was petrified of the fire alarm but as long as his arms were tightly around me he felt protected and was calm. The greatest impact of calmness and peace is that when preschoolers receive it they often offer it to others. I love to see my students comfort another classmate that is crying and say, (while rubbing their back) “It’s okay.” Like the color blue, peace is universal and understood by all.

 

Philosophically, colors exist because we can see them and in some cases feel them. However, providing preschoolers with a blank canvas where they have support and can be free to be themselves is really giving them white-the presences of all colors.

E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of New York in French to add comments!

Join New York in French

Visit our bookstore

 

 

Visit our store

Learn French