Topic

The tree of me

What Stimulates: Self-Awareness


Preparation and Materials:

  • Propose that the children find ways to represent a tree around them (from sticks to any material (strings, ropes, socks, cutlery, grains…).
  • Resource “Tree of Me” (attachment)

Recommended ages: 3-5 years - 5-8 years

Why is this activity important?

Our self-awareness is important as it helps us to express our preferences, share how we feel and understand what our strengths and limitations are. By understanding who we are, where we came from and how we aspire to be, children are able to understand where they belong in the world. A sense of belonging gives meaning and purpose to our lives and impacts our connection to others, nature and God.



How you can do this:

FOR AGES 3 TO 5 YEARS

1 - Go outside or in a green area in your community, such as a square or woods and point or look at a tree. Talk about the different parts of the tree and let your child touch the leaves, branches, trunk and roots:

  • Do you see its leaves and branches?
  • Do you see your trunk? (Point to trunk)
  • Do you see your roots? (Point to the roots).
  • Let's touch the tree!

2 - Take the collected materials and invite the children to create a tree and draw on the ground with a stick, for example. Ask them to think of things they would like to have around the tree that are about themselves, for example their family, friends or favorite toy.

  • You can do it too. Allow time to sit quietly and draw together. Help your child feel confident about creating and designing their own tree by letting them do it their own way.

3 - When developing the activity, consider asking some of the questions below. Give your child time and space to think through the questions and also share their tree. See what's the same and different about your trees. When your child responds, listen to the responses they share. As you get more comfortable, you want to encourage more open-ended responses rather than one right answer. You want the child to speak. You want them to explain the story of their tree to you in their own words!

  • Who did you draw on your tree?
  • Have you made or drawn a favorite toy? Which one?
  • Did you draw any friends? Which one?
  • What else did you do?

Celebrate the effort your child has made to produce his 'Tree of Me'. You can also use this as an opportunity to tell your child more about where he came from, what he was like when he was younger, and about family members or ancestors, family members who came before him.

FOR AGES 5-8

1 - Share with your child how the two of you are going to create a 'Me Tree'. Go outside, look out the window or at a green area in your community, such as a square or woods, and name the parts of the tree (leaves, branches, trunk, roots). 2 - Take your collected materials and start creating or drawing a tree on the ground with a stick, for example. Explain that around the tree we can draw and write things about ourselves. Let the child set up his tree, draw and write freely, in silence. When they're done, notice something special. For example, you can create, draw and write:

  • Family, friends and loved ones
  • The place where you live or used to live
  • School
  • Something that makes you happy/sad
  • something you like to do

3- Ask your child questions about his 'Tree of Me'. You can also share your tree and compare the different things you've drawn and written. Below are some suggestions. As they talk, they can make the dialogue more open, free for the child to express what he feels and thinks. It's important to let him explain the story of his tree in his own words!

  • Amazing! Who did you draw/write around your tree?
  • What did you draw that makes you happy/sad?
  • What did you add that you like to do?

4 - This can also be a time when you can tell a little more where the child came from, according to your belief system. You can share feelings you had about your child, prayers you said, or experiences that happened while the child was still in the womb, if that is relevant. You can also share about your hopes and dreams for your child as he grows up. If you share your ideas, be sure to build on the child's ideas, not cancel them out.

Tip on how to do this activity in a group

If it is safe to do so, go out in a group and sit around a tree. Talk about what you can see and ask the children to come and touch the tree. Ask the children about the parts of the tree, the names and the function of each. If possible, stay outside while each child creates or draws their 'Tree of Me'. You can invite the child to present the drawing to the group respecting their wishes.


To Reflect:

Pastoral da Criança defends the importance of places in the community such as squares, parks, gardens and sidewalks, as they are privileged public spaces for children to play, and are increasingly absent from our cities. The games in these places offer children moments of free and active participation where they have the opportunity to take the initiative, live situations that they choose, in addition to playing with other children, and experiencing all kinds of differences that are the basis of the constitution of our society. When they relate freely, children experience life situations: competition, cooperation, fear, courage, that is, they socialize, learn and develop better.



Resource: The Tree of Me

This activity is primarily aimed at developing self-awareness, which means being able to express personal preferences, feelings, thoughts and abilities. Soon after birth, babies go through phases quickly, discovering the boundaries between what their body is, who their caregiver is and what their environment is. This very early concrete self-awareness sets the stage for the later abstract and spiritual aspects of self-awareness.

At 0-3 years, the child can:

  • answer yourself in the mirror
  • notice effects of your own physical actions
  • using the comfort of familiar experiences to explore new activities and experiences
  • repeating a familiar activity until you feel comfortable and gain confidence
  • express ownership of objects and people

At age 4-8 they can:

  • distinguish aspects of self, compared to others
  • identify likes and dislikes, needs and wants
  • try out new activities and experiences with adult support
  • return to activities where they previously failed

You can do activities that help the child develop their concept of themselves, as well as a concept of where they come from and where they are going. This initial practice helps build the foundations for later spiritual activities, such as exploring meaning and purpose in life.

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