It was a rainy morning, but we had somewhere to be, so we headed to the bus.
The children did a wonderful job waiting patiently at the stop, and once we were on our way, the excitement started building. I wasn’t entirely sure they understood what we were heading toward, but honestly? That’s half the magic. They’re always ready for a good adventure, and that spirit is one of my favourite things about this crew.
When we arrived at the community center, my consultant from the Region of Waterloo Home Childcare was already there waiting, and I could tell she was just as excited as we were. She helped me get everyone settled, and as we stepped into the room, our special guest Abbi greeted us. The children were shy at first but slowly began to warm up, the way children always do when something feels genuinely safe and joyful.
Abbi started with Pinkalicious, and made every page come alive with the sort of enthusiasm that makes even the shyest kid lean forward. They followed it up with a few pages from a children’s book about Pride that was simple enough for the littlest ones, but carried a message that landed for everyone: Pride exists because everyone is welcome, and everyone belongs.
Then things got moving. The Hokey Pokey had everyone on their feet, giggling and bumping into each other, and by the time Abbi started lip-syncing True Colors, we were all dancing together in the middle of the room. It was one of those moments that’s hard to describe because it’s just so full. Full of joy, full of silliness, full of something that felt important.
Mornings like this are exactly what How Does Learning Happen looks like in practice: not a heavy-handed lesson, just a room full of children who feel safe enough to be silly, curious enough to lean in, and brave enough to dance.
Abbi offered them something real: a joyful, honest celebration of love, identity, and the freedom to be exactly who you are. And without ever naming it, they modelled many of the Seven Grandfather Teachings; Love in the way they welcomed every child into the space, Respect in the way they honoured difference, and Bravery in simply showing up fully and authentically. The children found their own bravery too, one small step at a time.
Experiences like this are why community matters. When we step outside our walls, children learn something no curriculum can fully capture: that the world is big, that people are wonderfully different, and that there is always room for them in it.
This is the kind of learning that lasts.
Sorrel & Cedar ELC 