I once thought that I wanted to be an early childhood education major. I interned with a fourth grade class and spent much time with my mother’s kindergarten class. Each year brings a new group of students and personalities. This past week I spent a majority of my time helping my mom with her class. While in the classroom, I realized I was learning more from this group of five and six year olds than I thought. I have complied the top three lessons. Even though these children are small, they are mighty.

1. Children are their environment.

Having spent time in my mother’s classroom for years, it is so easy to guess a child’s environment by their behavior. The children are their environment. They bring their home life, which can be very good or very bad. The children in my mom’s class speak and act the way they would at home. Even if the students may not realize it, it is extremely easy for teachers to become gain a glimpse of home in a child.

2. Hate is taught.

A 5 or 6 year old does not notice skin colors. A 5 or 6 year old does understand religious, sexist, racial, or socioeconomic discrimination. A kindergartener will play with anyone because they have not yet been taught that one race is better than the other, or that one religion is better than the other.

3. Enjoy the simple things.

Like any other teacher, my mom has a classroom full of technology. She has a promethean board, computers, a laptop, and iPads for the class. Even with all this available technology, the children seemed to flock to the building blocks, Legos, and action figures. I watched them construct their own worlds without the use of technology. They offered to pick up the classroom and race to see who could do it the quickest. These children know that even among a possible stressful environment, they can take the time to enjoy. My mom told them they would each receive a sticker and they rejoiced as if they had just won all the toys in the world.

Sometimes all we need is a little insight from someone half our size. Even though these children are just learning how to read and write, they are teaching adults around them even greater lessons.