What I Learned

What we learned in kindergarten can help us our whole life, in business, in relationships, in society!

What I Learned

I taught kindergarten for many years. What did I teach children? What can we learn from the lessons taught in kindergarten?

How are these simple lessons the building blocks of civilization?

1. Share

You have ten crayons. Your seatmate has one. What should you do? You have two cupcakes. Your friend has none. What should you do? You are rich. You see a beggar. What should you do?

1. Tell the truth. Clearly, a made-up story will hurt you…and hurt others!

2. Help someone who needs help. Someone falls on the playground or in life. Is it better to go over and laugh at them, or help them get up?

3. Take turns. Wait. Let the person in front of you go first. Don’t shove! Use respect.

4. No name calling. Don’t call people names. Would you like it? No one is perfect. Everyone deserves kindness. If you want it, show it.

5. Clean up after yourself! Everyone makes a mess sometimes. If you make a mess, clean it up. Don’t expect someone else to clean up your mess. Put things away.

6. Use your inside voice. Use your inside voice when inside. Run and shout when outside.

7. Keep your hands to yourself. Never hit anyone. Your personal space belongs to you, theirs belongs to them. Hitting or pushing someone is invading their personal space. It’s wrong.

8. Listen and follow directions.Following directions can keep you safe. Listening can help you follow directions and stay safe. Everyone does better if everyone listens and follows directions. Want to be in charge? Make it a goal! It may take a lifetime!

9. Respect other people’s stuff. If it’s not yours, don’t touch it. If it's not yours , don’t break it. If it's not yours, don’t hide it!

10. Use the magic words:

11. Please.

12. Thank you.

13. I’m sorry.

14. Excuse me.

15. Stay clean. Its ok to get dirty. Wash up. Don’t expose others to un-necessary dirt. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Ask for help if you feel sick.

16. Respect shared space. Keep it clean. Don’t leave a mess. Apply #6, and #2 and #4 and any other number that seems appropriate.

17. Enjoy every activity! Everything is fun if you find a way to make it fun-even if it's just fun in your head! Don’t be a cry-baby or a whiner.

18. Watch out for danger.

19. Don’t run with scissors.

20. Fire can hurt you and others.

21. Be careful around cars…and animals you don’t know!

22. Don’t put glue where it doesn’t belong.

23. Only eat what a trusted adult gives you.

24. Nap

25. If you’re tired—nap

26. If you’re hungry—eat

27. If you’re thirsty—drink.

28. If you’re lonely—find a friend.

29. If you’re happy—sing.

30. If you’re sad—cry.

31. Everything dies.

32. Cats…Dogs… Family members… Plants. Everything

33. Life goes on. Live every minute!

Everything we learned in kindergarten; we can use every day. Parents used to tell me kindergarten was playtime. I disagree. It is one of the richest learning opportunities ever!

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Respect to Robert Fulghum, from whom I learned a lot when I listened! Tell me your learning experience…karenmac1999@hotmail.com.