A Friendship Yarn

Friendships are at the heart of childhood, and one of the most beautiful ways to explore the dynamics of relationships is through storytelling. Recently, we read A Friendship Yarn by Lisa Moser—a delightful book that provides a gentle reminder of how friendships can grow, stretch, and even face challenges, much like a ball of yarn.

Inspired by the themes in the book, we decide to create our own "Friendship Yarn" learning experience to symbolize how friendships connect and hold us together. ​

We use a simple ball of yarn and start by having one child holds the end of the yarn while rolling it to another friend. But instead of letting go, the first child holds onto the end of the yarn. Before passing it, we share something we appreciate about the friend we choose—whether it is a favorite memory, something special we do, or simply what makes us a good friend. The friend receiving the yarn holds onto it as well, passes it to another child, and the process continues until everyone is connected by the yarn.

The result is a web-like structure made of yarn, symbolizing how each child in the class is connected to one another through our friendships. Just like in the book, the yarn represents the bonds we share and the effort we put into keeping these bonds strong.

What makes this learning experience truly special is hearing ourselves express thoughtful, kind words about each other. It is a powerful moment, reinforcing the idea that friends play an important role in our lives and that nurturing these relationships makes our classroom community stronger.

​Just as in A Friendship Yarn, we learn that friendships, like yarn, can sometimes be tangled or complicated, but with care, communication, and a little kindness, we can be untangled and makes even stronger. It is a wonderful way to not only reinforce the book’s message but also to give us a tangible experience of what friendship truly means.

We hope to continue creating more opportunities for us to nourish a beautiful, strong, and supportive community.

Just from a simple holding hands while walking outdoors can foster our sense of togetherness. Without realizing, when we hold hands we are showing each other that we  care about them. It's like saying, I am here for you, without using any words. It's actually a powerful way of creating a special bond without having to say a single word. 

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During our outdoor time Nora and Emily stand on a cut tree, fully immersed in feeling the breeze. Both seem deeply connect to the sensation, taking a moment to really experience the air. Afterward, we invite others to join us and experience the wind in the same way. This simple act of standing on a tree and feeling the air speaks to the our curiosity about the world around us and our desire to share meaningful experiences.

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Pranssi, being a naturally curious friend, pauses to notice when asked, What do you think is happening to this tree? She takes her time to consolidate her thought prior to sharing it forward.

Our research shows that when adults help children identify their thinking processes, children are likely to be more curious, more aware and reflective about their own thinking, and more likely to develop thinking dispositions (tendencies that guide intellectual behaviour as they encounter problems and try to solve them - Salmon, 2016).

Afterward, she mentions, when the night comes, the bats cut (with their sharp teeth) the tree. Pranssi sees a possible cause from her perspective of the relationship between the tree supports the lives of many large organisms around it. Many different types of wildlife depend on tree for food. 

Whereas Kai suggests that the wind may move the leaves to rustle against the electrical wires; therefore, the tree has to be cut. His explanation supports the theory of cause and effect. He exhibits understanding of the operation of mechanisms which allows him to understand causal relationships.

This process of conversing our thoughts allows us to gather evidence through exploration and understand it through explanation, it provides us with insights into the scientific reasoning. As such it allows us to harness our potential for scientific reasoning and improve our critical thinking skills.

While engaging an art learning experience, Pranssi draws a picture of her parents. Her dad is standing beside her which she confidently states, I do not get lost. She also portrays her mom as always being happy, even when she spills spaghetti from her bowl. The drawing shows the family together, going grocery shopping for Pranssi. She reveals her sense of security and confidence with her dad nearby, as well as the joy and resilience she associates with her mom, even in moments of smalls mishaps.

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Fides draws multiple fireworks and intentionally tears the paper explaining that many of the fireworks "explode." The broken paper symbolizes the explosion, illustrating his understanding of the physical action of fireworks and how he translates this dynamic concept into his artwork. His approach to his drawing demonstrates his imaginative thinking and his ability to connect abstract ideas with physical representations, and also reflects Fides's curiosity about cause and effect. The broken paper becomes a metaphor for the destructive yet fascinating force of fireworks, revealing how children use creative media to explore complex ideas like movement, transformation, and energy.

During a moment of conflict resolution, Emily approaches Kai for something she has done. Kai accepts her apology, responding, "Ok, but please don't do it again." This brief yet exchange highlights both children's growing ability to communicate our feelings and how we are learning to manage social relationships. Emily's willingness to say sorry demonstrates her developing empathy and awareness of social norms, while Kai's response shows his ability to accept an apology, but also assert his boundaries by asking her not to repeat the action.

While playing on the slide, Pranssi demonstrates a remarkable sense of care and responsibility toward Luka. She patiently helps him, waiting for him, ensuring he is comfortable, and then receiving him at the bottom with gentle guidance. Luka responds to Pranssi's kindness by smiling, clearly enjoying her attention and showing his trust and comfort with her.
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Luka enjoys so much time of bouncing the ball and moving along with it. He is seen to lift his arm up and back using upper trunk rotation. It is indeed a fun time to learn how to balance his body in space, interact with his environment, and coordinate opposing sides of his body. 

Hip, hip, hooray!! Wishing you a fantastic 3rd birthday to our loveable Emily! May your day always be filled with joy, laughter, and lots of fun.

Kindest,
Children & Friends.

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