12/06/2026
Special moments: Time for tea.
In a world that can feel rushed and noisy, slowing down together around a fire gives children the experience of calm, belonging and shared community.
Before the tea is ready, the children wait together around the fire circle. They learn that fire is both useful and dangerous, that rules help to keep us safe and that some things require patience, care and attention.
The process is slow and intentional. The adults speak calmly and quietly. The children watch the fire being lit, smell the smoke, notice the water beginning to boil and wait as each cup of tea is carefully poured and passed around the circle one by one.
The china cups are precious and each one is different. The children hold them carefully with both hands, learning gentleness, responsibility and respect for real objects.
Although it may look simple, moments like these are deeply important for early childhood development. The children are practising impulse control, patience, attention, emotional regulation and delayed gratification, all key parts of developing executive function.
But perhaps the most important part is the quality of the adult interactions surrounding it all.
Today it was a joy to watch Lora and Jenny with the children. Calm, respectful and deeply attentive, they gave the children exactly what they needed and no more. They waited before stepping in, allowing space for children to think, notice, respond and lead. They used just enough language to provoke curiosity and conversation without overwhelming the moment or taking ownership of it themselves.
This kind of interaction preserves confidence, competence and agency. It tells children, “I trust you. I believe you are capable.”
During the tea activity everything was carefully considered for each individual child, from where they sat, to how long they waited, to how the cup was offered into their hands. It is difficult to describe just how beautiful these moments are to witness, but they are often where the deepest learning happens.
