Recently, I attended a yoga class—I hadn’t been to one in quite some time and while I found it challenging, there was also some familiarity, a grounding of sorts!  While in the class, the instructor continued to use the phrase “begin again.” It resonated with me at many levels.  Just like I had after many months of being absent from yoga practice, I was beginning again. As the practice got tough and I became more distracted with my own thoughts, noises around me, etc., this phrase helped me to ignore the distractions and “get to the work.”   

As I continued to think about these simple words, I reflected on how applicable this is as we begin a new year.  It is a natural “reset” of sorts.  I also thought about how this applies to our work in Primary Project and child associates’ weekly sessions with students.  Every week, we show up with intentions of bringing our full self to each session with every child—we “get to the work.” However, it may not always go the exact way we hope.  We might have missed an opportunity to use one of the child-centered basic skills, a child might have tested the limits and we got stuck in the language of limit setting or we may become distracted and not fully be present with children.  Whatever it is, being reflective in our practice and knowing that we can “begin again” is reassuring.   

In the new year, begin again!  Reflect on your weekly sessions, continue to stay rooted in child centered skills, use supervision as an opportunity to refine your skills, attend professional development opportunities, or find other child associates in your district and take time to role play and practice playroom scenarios!   

In this From the Playroom edition: 

• In What’s Great In Our State, child associates from Washington D.C. were asked to reflect on what they hoped for their relationships to be like with children in the format of a recipe.   
• Bringing the Lessons Home (parent piece) continues to highlight principles from Jodi Mullen’s book, “Raising Freakishly Well-Behaved Kids.” 
• Children’s Institute is looking to increase our National Certification reviewer pool.  Read on for more details about what we are looking for and the commitment needed.   

Best wishes for a healthy New Year!
Lynn Smith

–Lynn Smith, LMSW
Co-Director, Primary Project