We are completing our On the Go box from Experience Early Learning this week as we study Public Transportation. On this particular day, we studied taxis- something we hardly ever see.
We live in a small town in Texas, and honestly the only time we see taxis is when we watch a show that takes place in the city. In fact when I took my kids to see Clifford the Big Red Dog the other week, I had the opportunity to point out several taxis.
I set up our Invitation to Create and when my kiddos saw the yellow taxi cab with its black and white checkered stripe down the side, they were instantly taken. I started asking them the prompts in my Teacher Guide:
- What do you notice about the photo?
- What materials do you have in front of you that you can use to make a checkered design?
- Will you cut the strips to make rectangles, or would you rather weave with the strips?
- What pattern can you make with the two colors?
As we discussed the picture, my kids instantly recognized the checkered pattern on the taxi. We study patterns a lot with Experience Early Learning, especially on our calendar which we do daily. We’ve explored an AB pattern, AABB pattern, and this month is an ABC pattern. My 3 year old remarked that the taxi had and AB pattern- black, white, black, white.
When I asked them the question about making rectangles or weaving, both my kiddos wanted me to teach them how to weave the paper.
For the Record: Years ago, I had my then 5 year old daughter weave paper placemats for Thanksgiving, which was such a struggle for her. I did NOT do a good job in letting her start small. I just thought she could do an 11x 14 paper without any real previous experience and she still remembers the struggle. I failed as her mother and teacher that day and she still remembers it, as do I. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
Honestly, I dreaded trying to teach my 3 year old how to weave paper. That hard lesson with my girl years ago still haunts me, but it allowed me to have more grace today and really teach them where they are and NOT where I want them to be. There is a big difference there.
How to Create a Paper Weaving
Have the kids fold their main paper in half. Then cut from the fold up but stop about an inch from the top. Then cut the 2 sections in half again but not all the way. Now the child has cut 3 lines creating 4 paper sections to weave in and out of. This is perfect for the preschooler. For my 7 year old, I had her cut each of those sections in half, thus cutting 7 lines and creating 8 sections to weave in and out of.
My 7 year old cut 7 lines making 8 sections 
My 3 year old cut 3 lines making 4 sections
Experience Preschool sent us the the yellow background paper and the black and white paper strips which helped me so much mentally as I was already nervous remembering my failure as a mom 2 years ago. I showed my kids how to weave under and over and the pattern involved. They were quick to point out that it was another AB pattern- over, under, over under.
I had them glue the ends of their paper strips so that the pattern would stay in place. I was so impressed with their work especially my 3 year old! He really stuck with this and it was quite challenging manipulating the paper.
My 7 year old still remembered the struggle from 2 years ago and the paper mats she created that we now use every Thanksgiving. Did I mention that we did this taxi weaving project the week of Thanksgiving? It’s been almost 2 years to the day… the Lord’s timing is perfect. She was apprehensive about doing this project again, but she did it and was so proud of her completed work, as was I!
The Lord is so good and His timing is perfect. He brings things full circle and redeems moments we know we failed in and struggled with. He redeemed me and allowed me to repent for the struggle I made my daughter endure years ago by pushing her to do something I thought she could, and forcing her to take giant steps instead of the little steps she needed to take. My son received those little steps today. The Lord redeemed my daughter in this weaving project by allowing her to see that even though she may have struggled years ago with the task of weaving paper, she can do it now with ease and beauty.
With tears falling down my cheeks, I held my girl close and told her how proud I am of her, and that I’m sorry that I pushed her in something so difficult and didn’t provide her the easier steps she needed years ago.
She forgave me. God is so good.
Who would have thought that creating a checkered taxi would bring some much needed therapy and redemption? Seriously didn’t think that was going to happen when I opened that Daily Discovery bag, but I am thanking the Lord that He used it in a such a mighty way.
