My Metaphor: The Flower in the Garden
Stylianou et al. (2013) suggest the use of metaphors as a way to reveal and raise awareness about unconscious beliefs, and ways to conceptualize individuals thinking, which shape and cultivate and/or limit peoples' knowledge and actions.
Well, aside from the metaphor being a requirement for this e-portfolio completion, forming my metaphor started and was shaped when I realized how delightful nurturing and caring for other beings were for me. In reflecting on my journey as an early childhood educator, I see children as flowers, all special and each unique in some ways, so the flower in the garden has come to my mind as a metaphor for each child’s individuality. The fact that flowers need to have access to a secure and kind environment to flourish is obvious to me. Additionally, as a passionate early childhood educator, I strongly believe that children deserve and need to be perceived as the flower, and the child care centre where provides the care for them is the garden. In agreement with Shirakawa and Saracho (2021) who note that Froebel’s classes being held in gardens where children can learn through play - self initiated, pleasant activities, and by practicing their power, in this e-portfolio project, I metaphorically imagine a garden for children to thrive and flourish the same as the flowers in the garden.
The flower in the garden metaphor advocates for all children under care being viewed as special, and distinctive individuals, each having their own essence and inner beauty who deserve to be well cared for. Although coming up with a metaphor might seem daunting at first, swirling around with various thoughts, a glance at the pictures on my phone brought a big smile to my face and a beautiful idea to my mind. The flower in the garden was the initial idea that illuminated my inquiry since the only images one can find on my phone are mostly the ones captured of flowers and with children. As a person who is in love with taking care of both flowers, and children, I searched more, to find and narrow down my scope to any type of flower for this graduating project. For the purpose of this portfolio and from a care-providing point of view, I went through most of the flowers I have seen, but could not choose any, just as no educator can select one child under care over the other children. I chose article “the” introducing flower - metaphorically for children under care, in agreement with Cook (2013) who states, the one* who brings forward and acknowledges all the differences a person might have with others, i.e. through appreciation of differences individuals feel for their uniqueness and individuality. Hence, I chose the flower in the garden, realizing children’s uniqueness, differences and individualities.
Note*: “One of a kind” illustrates for young readers the differences between individuals, e.g., the choices of colours and all the differences that make people unique and special, as each person is “the one”.
References
Cook, J. (2013). Tease Monster: A Book About Teasing vs. Bullying. Boys Town Press.
Shirakawa, Y., & Saracho, O. N. (2021). Froebel's kindergarten and its movement in germany and the united states. Early Child Development and Care, 191(7-8), 1164-1174. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2020.1865338
Stylianou, M., Kulinna, P. H., Cothran, D., & Kwon, J. Y. (2013). Physical education teachers’ metaphors of teaching and learning. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 32(1), 22-45. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.32.1.22
Well, aside from the metaphor being a requirement for this e-portfolio completion, forming my metaphor started and was shaped when I realized how delightful nurturing and caring for other beings were for me. In reflecting on my journey as an early childhood educator, I see children as flowers, all special and each unique in some ways, so the flower in the garden has come to my mind as a metaphor for each child’s individuality. The fact that flowers need to have access to a secure and kind environment to flourish is obvious to me. Additionally, as a passionate early childhood educator, I strongly believe that children deserve and need to be perceived as the flower, and the child care centre where provides the care for them is the garden. In agreement with Shirakawa and Saracho (2021) who note that Froebel’s classes being held in gardens where children can learn through play - self initiated, pleasant activities, and by practicing their power, in this e-portfolio project, I metaphorically imagine a garden for children to thrive and flourish the same as the flowers in the garden.
The flower in the garden metaphor advocates for all children under care being viewed as special, and distinctive individuals, each having their own essence and inner beauty who deserve to be well cared for. Although coming up with a metaphor might seem daunting at first, swirling around with various thoughts, a glance at the pictures on my phone brought a big smile to my face and a beautiful idea to my mind. The flower in the garden was the initial idea that illuminated my inquiry since the only images one can find on my phone are mostly the ones captured of flowers and with children. As a person who is in love with taking care of both flowers, and children, I searched more, to find and narrow down my scope to any type of flower for this graduating project. For the purpose of this portfolio and from a care-providing point of view, I went through most of the flowers I have seen, but could not choose any, just as no educator can select one child under care over the other children. I chose article “the” introducing flower - metaphorically for children under care, in agreement with Cook (2013) who states, the one* who brings forward and acknowledges all the differences a person might have with others, i.e. through appreciation of differences individuals feel for their uniqueness and individuality. Hence, I chose the flower in the garden, realizing children’s uniqueness, differences and individualities.
Note*: “One of a kind” illustrates for young readers the differences between individuals, e.g., the choices of colours and all the differences that make people unique and special, as each person is “the one”.
References
Cook, J. (2013). Tease Monster: A Book About Teasing vs. Bullying. Boys Town Press.
Shirakawa, Y., & Saracho, O. N. (2021). Froebel's kindergarten and its movement in germany and the united states. Early Child Development and Care, 191(7-8), 1164-1174. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2020.1865338
Stylianou, M., Kulinna, P. H., Cothran, D., & Kwon, J. Y. (2013). Physical education teachers’ metaphors of teaching and learning. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 32(1), 22-45. https://doi.org/10.1123/jtpe.32.1.22