Primary: Practical Life: Observing Someone at Work

Primary Instructor

Lesson 41 is Observing Someone at Work, and this is one of the hardest things we ask young children to do. Observing without touching is one of the hardest things we ask young children to do. It is also one of the most important. A young child is driven by sensory exploration. They want to touch everything. They want to manipulate, to discover, to possess. The impulse to grab what interests them is primary. Teaching observation without intervention is teaching impulse control and respect. Impulse control develops through this practice. The child learns to want something and to wait, to watch and to learn without possessing. This is the foundation of self-regulation. Respect for another person's work develops as the child learns to see someone else's process as valuable. In some cultures and educational contexts, observation is a primary mode of learning. Children watch their parents, their relatives, their community members. They learn by being near, by watching, by absorbing. This lesson validates and strengthens that way of learning. It says: watching and learning from others is a real skill. It is valued here. For children with ADHD, the impulse to touch and grab is very strong. Asking them to watch without touching is a significant demand. Teach this lesson but do not expect instant mastery. Practice it frequently. Celebrate small victories in impulse control. Model observation yourself. When you observe a child at work, do it with genuine attention. Show children that watching someone work is a form of respect and appreciation. Make them want to observe because they see the value in it.

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