| “Class, today we are going to do something | | | | It is an amusing sight. The boys in the class looked |
| fun,” I said smilingly to my class of mostly 6 year | | | | alarmed while the girls look very much excited. I |
| olds. I asked: “Would you want to do something | | | | anticipated these reactions even before for I have |
| fun?” “Yeah! We do! We do,” they replied. | | | | been doing dress up games every year with my |
| “How about you guess first what we are going to | | | | different students. “That is not true. Dress up |
| do?” “We are going to recite Mary Had A | | | | games are for everybody. Remember when we |
| Little Lamb!” replied one of my students. “You | | | | pretended to be pirates and cowboys last time and |
| are going to read us a new story!” another | | | | you wore pirates and cowboys outfit? Well, these are |
| quipped. “We are going to watch a new Barney | | | | also dress up games.” |
| video,” one enthusiastically guessed. | | | | I divided them into groups and said: “Here are some |
| I laughed at their enthusiasm. I have been a | | | | costumes in my bag. You will choose among your |
| kindergarten teacher for almost three years now and | | | | group the person that you will dress up. The best |
| the children’s energy and creativity never fails to | | | | costume design will win for their group ice cream.” |
| amaze me. You asked them questions and their | | | | That did it. I just said the magic word. At the mention |
| responses will almost always leave you surprised. | | | | of ice cream, Fifteen children suddenly began to focus |
| “No. No. Those are good guesses little sirs and little | | | | and rushed to the bag to pick up clothing for their team |
| misses.” Fifteen adorable laughters filled the air. | | | | member. You will never expect them to be 6 year |
| They loved to be called little sirs and little misses. | | | | olds with the way they do the task in a business-like |
| “But we are not going to do any of those. I, | | | | manner. Sure, arguments and giggles would break out |
| however, will try to remember your suggestions so | | | | here and there but after 10 minutes, you will get to see |
| that we could do them in our succeeding classes.” | | | | the results. |
| “What are we going to do then?” they | | | | “Ok. The time is up. Let me see what you have |
| chorused. They began to get restless. It is always | | | | done.” The first group dressed their classmate as |
| important to hold the children’s attention or you can | | | | a ninja complete with rolled-up newspaper which I took |
| bet that pandemonium will result in just a few | | | | to be the samurai sword. In the end, the group that |
| moments. “Well, we are going to play dress up | | | | made their group mate look like a giant robot won the |
| games!” “Dress up games? But those are only | | | | contest. Games like these are good to help the |
| for girls! We do not want to play games for girls,” | | | | children develop their creative skills and teach them the |
| one of my boy students complained. | | | | virtue of cooperation. |