Will your teaching philosophy change a life?

When teaching games to young children, what is worth teaching? What is going to truly make a difference in their lives? How do you create an environment that is fun for all?

Prior to planning a game based on fun, it is important to dig deeper and force ones self to think about your philosophy for teaching. It is a system of principles that are always considered when creating games and concluding what it is the children need to be taught. My philosophy is based on the fact that each child is an individual with emotions, reactions, and thoughts. Each is unique and the interactions they have at a young age, and the way they are taught, shapes them into who they are and what they demonstrate to others.

To children, games are all about having fun. Though it is 

very important that they enjoy themselves, it is just as important that they use teamwork, follow rules, and are respectful to other children. Those who grow older and base their lives around competition may be hard working, but are also doing anything they can to win. This includes cheating, lying, and even knocking down others to get to the top. Is this what we want for our future? What about those who were the ones being knocked down, cheated, and lied to? Well they are the ones with no sense of self-worth, do not typically like to participate and perhaps are lacking in social skills. This is due to fear. FEAR of losing! FEAR of being the butt end of the joke! FEAR, of what life has to offer.

My philosophy is to show children that you can have fun when playing games as well as making it fun for others. The inclusion of other people, trying your own personal best, following rules, and being positive is what makes a day enjoyable whether it be playing games, out on the playground, or in the classroom. With everyone working together and including one another, no single child is left behind and it is an extremely useful life lesson to be learned.

There is no perfect world, where everyone plays together in harmony, where teachers all have the same philosophy, or where each student is raised in a similar household. However if you are able to teach this philosophy to at least one student and make a difference in their lives.......why wouldn't you?

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY?