KidsSpeak

In a recent clean out of all my “stuff”, I came upon a couple of pages with hand written notes. It’s something I’ve treasured all these years! As a new teacher back in 1989, I was fascinated and thrilled by conversations and observations from the children I worked with. These children would now be in their thirties. I wonder if they even know how much I treasured these moments of connection! The children were all 5 or 6 years old.

Alex L, on observing someone’s painting of a girl and boy with sky above, grass below and the figures positioned 5cm above the grass, says: “In all my life of experience, I have never seen people up in the air!” 🤣

We used to ring a tambourine to call the children inside. Juan-Pierre R: “May I please ring the trampoline?” 🤣

Many of my children were bilingual....most spoke Afrikaans as a first language and English as a second language. Ivan P as I caught him helping himself to Josh’s lunch and I raised my eyebrows questioning what was happening, said matter-of-factly “We “deel” (Afrikaans for swop) our food but Josh doesn’t like my food.” 🤣

I overheard one girl asking another girl what they’d like to be when they grew up. The answer: “A mermaid!” 😁

At news time one morning, I was surprised to hear Ivan say they were going overseas on the weekend. I asked where exactly overseas? He replied, “Langebaan!” A seaside location not far from Cape Town. 🤣

Gaby J: “When is the togufah coming?”

I’m confused and say who??

“You know, the man who takes the photos?”🤣

Benjamin S, who had lost his two front teeth and had a little trouble with certain sounds, replied to my question about his favourite TV show; “Cheenage Churchles”. (teenage Ninja Turtles) 🤣

I ask the children if they know what a chameleon is, but I address the question in Afrikaans, “ Ken jy vir n verkleurmannetjie?” Ivan: “Yes, it’s a coloured man!” This in apartheid South Africa, relates to an ethnic classification but no wonder he was confused, Verkleurmannetjie translates directly as “little man who can change colour”! 🤣

One of the parents visits us with a little dog and Hannah asks: “Is he a little girl?” 🤣

Ivan: “ I stood awake all night in bed last night.” In Afrikaans, we say “ek het heel nag opgestaan”....it’s a literal translation! 🤣

Ivan shares his news about moving home, “ We used to live in a flat (pointing upwards) but now we live on the earth.” Perhaps he lived on an elevated level?? 🤣

Gaby shares her news and shows us her ballet shoes. “I ballayed in them.”

Rolien, on a 3km mini-fundraising walk says: “ I wish I never drank so much water before the walk cos’ my tummy is so heavy now and I have to carry it!” 🤣

Robbie, a coloured child whose mum didn’t own a car, saw a VW Kombi parked outside, asks; “ Teacher, whose taxi is that?” In South Africa, many black and coloured people would catch Hiace taxis. 😁

I was showing different pictures of dogs one morning at mat time and Danny says; “ Yes, my Granny’s got a dog like that but he died of ammonia!” 😁

Kirsten tells me: “ I’ve got a chain with a red diamond.” ( Ruby?) 🤣

Wade, on seeing me with short hair, “ Teacher, why did you cut your hair? Now you look like an alien from outer space!” 🤣. Kids aren’t know for subtleties!

Children are great at making up new words!! Carlo comes over to elicit some help with his : “ Danny and Rolien are boggering us!” Buggering, perhaps combined with bothering? 🤣

I ask the class, “Whose ever eaten dates?”

Wade looks bemused, “ It’s the dates of the week!” 🤣

We were busy doing ink blowing pictures. Franz says after blowing ink across his page, “ Mrs Green, I feel dizzy! I can’t believe where I am!” 🤣

Ivan shares his news about his new baby brother, “ He has blue eyes and blonde hair and (wrinkling his nose and pinching the skin on the back of his hand) his hands are all wilfully!” Perhaps he meant wrinkly? 🤣

Cobus guessing which game we are about to play; “Dis seker music-of-bums!”

(It’s surely musical bumps?) 🤣

Quintin asks ; “ Juffrou, kan ons music-of-chairs speel?” ( Teacher, can we play musical chairs?) 🤣

Richard T says to me; “ Teacher, I just want to rewind you of something.....” (Remind) 🤣

Ockert asks me, “Wanneer gan ons eet? My maag skreeu!” (When will we eat? My stomach is screaming!) 🤣

Richard says “Grandma knows how to snow!” (Sew). 🤣

Wesley informs me that he can speak both English and Afrikaans; “Teacher, I’m milingual!” (Bilingual). 🤣

Danny is telling us about visiting her dad at his work; “My dad is the boss of a floor and he has the biggest chair. I peeped in the other offices and they only have small chairs.” Her dad must’ve been really important! 😁

Leigh speaks about going to the “farmer sister” (pharmacist) 🤣

Chris can’t say the secretary’s name, Mrs Schreuder, and he calls her Mrs Credit! Very appropriate for an office administrator. 😁

In Afrikaans, the word “bere” means to put away. Hanri tells me “Teacher, I want to quickly bury my picture” 🤣. I was always having to literally translate words used!

It is a precious experience, working alongside children who are formulating the world around them and the language to express themselves. I later went on to write down all the precious little things our own children came up with. The books are such a treasure and I still giggle or smile when I read them!!l