Children Observations #3 Oscar Newman

Setting​:

This observation took place at a public event at Islandwood: a family concert with a

renowned children’s musician. The children attended the concert after a long (>3 hours) drive

from a family overnight trip. Most children seemed to be of early elementary age, though there

were some middle elementary children. Adults spanned many ages from young adults to

seniors. There were chairs set up in rows with a large open space in front of the stage. There

were two musicians: a lead singer on guitar and a keyboardist.

Observations​:

During the first song, the musician invited audience helpers to assist in demonstrating

hand gestures for a song about nature appreciation. I asked E and M (10 and 6 years old,

respectively) if they wanted to go and assist the musicians. They declined.

During the second song, the lead musician invited audience participation at the front of

the stage (some children needed to be reminded that they were not invited to go on to the

stage). This time, E and M decided they wanted to go up front to dance. They remained up front

for the remainder of the show, approximately 50 minutes more.

During the show, kids acted like decomposing plants and animals, seeds, trees, water

droplets and pantomimed playing instruments, shooting baskets, and a variety of other

physically engaging activities. Children, and many adults, were active for the duration of the

show. The show included a calming song near the conclusion. Many families stayed afterwards

for a pizza meal in the Dining Hall.

Post Observation Discussion​:

I asked E what had changed between the first song and subsequent songs. She stated

that she had felt embarrassed about going to dance when most kids were younger than her.

She was not able to articulate exactly what she was concerned about. She mentioned the

(similarly aged) children of a colleague that she had seen dancing from the beginning and

commented that they seemed to be having a good time. She said that she really enjoyed the

dancing and never gave self-consciousness another thought for the rest of the show. I

commented that there may be a life lesson there somewhere.