Cross-Age Opportunities in the Dancing Primes (Toddlers)

The Dancing Primes have been having Uppers students come do community service work in the classroom for most of the year. We are incredibly grateful as teachers for their support and dedication to the youngest Center School students. The Uppers have been building strong relationships with the Dancing Prime students. They come visit us at the end of the day right as students are waking up from their naps. The Uppers have learned how to meet the Dancing Primes where they’re at. They come in, get down on the floor with them and talk quietly and kindly to the Dancing Primes as they slowly start to wake up. Uppers are quick to help the Dancing Primes get their snacks, help teachers with dishes or spills, clean tables, or sweep. Whatever is needed in the classroom, they are offering to help while staying attuned to the unique needs of each Dancing Prime student. After snack time, Uppers are busy playing hide and seek, reading books, building tents, or playing in the pretend kitchen.  Uppers have learned our schedule and can be seen helping students get their shoes and coats on as we prepare for our outdoor dismissal. Sometimes we are lucky to have the Uppers come play with us outside in the play yard. They build sand castles, pull wagons, play ball games, and more. 

We are in awe of the love, dedication, and attentiveness, the Uppers demonstrate when doing their community service work. They offer so much integrity and care when working with the Dancing Primes and they have quickly realized that being in the toddler room is not only about play time (although of course it is a big part), but it’s about slowing down, listening to the children, and building relationships through the care you give them. Some Uppers students have been so inspired by their work in the Dancing Primes classroom that they started their own babysitting business! Emma, Tilly, and Linden took a Red Cross babysitting course and started a business called Out of This World Sitters.  We teachers highly recommend these three if you’re in need of a sitter.

Some words from the Dancing Primes about the Uppers:

“I love play with them.” “Playing outside”-Ollie 

“I like to play with them.-Simon

“I like to have fun and play blocks with them.”-Pearl

“I like to play.”- Nua

“Hide and seek.”- Asher

“Reading books.”- Orionas