Pen
GUEST BLOG: The Power of Dressing Up
At the beginning of December, I attended my little one’s 4th birthday and on the morning of the party he wanted to dress up. “Do you want Mummy to dress up too?” I asked him. “Yes Mummy, be princess?” He replied. “Cinderella?” I said, fingers crossed as it’s the only princess costume I have. “Yes mummy” he said, thankfully. I proceed to get ready in said costume and as I straighten my dress out he says, “Mummy you look so beautiful!” I blush and say “thank you.” Those words making me feel amazing. At the party and not one of the other parents bats an eye lid. A few weird looks from other members of the public, but I brush them aside my birthday boy is happy and so is my other son.
Fast forward to the last week of school, in December. I am dropping my eldest son off, I have a Christmas jumper on waiting at the gate with my son, and then my eye is caught by two adults clearly looking at and commenting on what I am wearing. At this moment, I focus on my eldest son and we just chat as we wait. The gate opens and I drop him off and leave feeling utterly paranoid about my jumper.
This from the same lady who was fine prancing around for her children in whatever costume they see fit.
Why am I writing this? Well I offered to write a blog about Pen Green and their relationship to me and my child. We haven’t been at Pen Green long, only about 9 months, and in that time my child along with his friends have dressed up in numerous outfits, from superheroes to doctors, witches to princesses. They have worn high glittering heels and had their faces painted in all sorts of different designs.
We as adults don’t judge children for doing this. It is all about expression, freedom, learning, having fun and just enjoying life – everything which Pen Green encourages children to do. As adults over time we come to pass judgement on others. We all do it. Unfortunately, its part of being a human being. I do it (privately and mainly about celebrities on Instagram!) Some people do it behind your back like I experienced and some are (I’m going to use the word brave but I’m not entirely sure that that’s the right word) brave and say what they are thinking to your face.
The children at Pen Green are encouraged not to judge others. They are shown how to be kind and be honest. A child’s mind is like a sponge and you the parent, guardian, family member or friend all play a part in how that child reacts to people in future situations. They watch how you react and how you deal with situations in daily life and that influences them in how they will deal with similar things in the future.
“The more open and authentic we are in dealing with situations, the more our children will grow into having a more open mind-set. In this way, we can hope to raise a future generation which will exude less negativity and hatred in the world and instead spread positivity and decency.”
I think most parents that use the facility will tell you that Pen Green allows children to be free to make their own decisions and do what they want to do. The confidence in my youngest son is staggering! He seems to have no fear compared to how he previously was – not even whilst riding Cranky the Crane at Thomas Land!
I love watching his freedom, his happiness whilst playing with his friends, and I desperately wait for Tapestry notifications to come through to see the new adventures he has been on whilst at nursery. I love the cuddles when I pick him up, I love listening to the stories on the way home. Stories of the beach and water room and venturing into the tower. I thank Pen Green for making my little one happy and I hope that thanks to this great start he will grow into a very confident, kind boy – a boy that is compassionate to others in this world.
Thanks for taking the time to read.
Mummybear