Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: kids and meetings

[Mary Ellen Wessels (verizon.mew]

Re: children in meetings Maggi said:

> <snip> Have a time at the beginning, or
> end, of each full-group meeting for the children who want to
> participate <snip> to have a
> time to share their ideas on whatever proposals are on the table. 
> Give them an opportunity to interact with the group on their level. 
> Then have them go away (if it's at the beginning of the meeting) or
> close the meeting (if at the end).

That's the kind of compromise that makes the most sense to me.  
I've worked with children for years now (and almost got my degree 
in early childhood ed but switched to children's lit and theater at 
the last second). :-)  I find it much too distracting to have children 
to watch over during an entire meeting but I like the idea of having 
them involved.  Having appropriate childcare during meetings is 
crucial to really accomplishing things, especially if you have more 
than a couple children.  We've been able to have our children 
"check in" frequently (and quietly) during meetings and then 
happily go back to play in a separate room with supervision.  I think 
structuring the meeting to schedule in child times is a great idea.  
There are lots of ways to get children's perspectives on many 
issues without making them sit through a whole meeting.
mew (Mary Ellen - who lives in MA right now and is considering a 
group in VT)


MaryEllen Wessels / Hopeful Romantics
mew [at] mewsic.com   http://www.mewsic.com
(978) 345-6110
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