For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 02, 2015

Deer-in-the-headlights time!

In the kids’ minds, they’re wondering if their teacher is joking.

Why are they so scared?

No kindergarten in Canada? Most of them would already be acquainted if there was.

This happens in college, too.

Lynn’s Notes:"

This is what I call the “DUHhhh moment”; that frozen space of time between, “You want me to do what?” And… “Maybe I’ll do it.”

It’s the “boys are gross” and “girls have cooties” look

I know the teacher meant well, but she should have at least started with having them say their names to each other, do some ice breakers, something to have fun with! They are only 6 years old after all.

Stranger Danger need not apply here.

As a greeter at church, I’ve learned to offer a handshake to the older adults, a high five to the young parents, and a fist bump to the kids. Some of the younger children have no clue what a handshake is, but they do recognize the fist .

This is a sign of the times. Before fist-bumping, before many of the cute “get to know you” games. I’m sure this is like what my life was like back then. Only bigger. We knew some people from Kindergarten, but in school now, we have 7 classes- you’ll only know 3 or 4 kids in your class!

Also, my youngest started 1st grade this year, and I’m loving following along as her experiences and Elizabeth’s mirror each other, and her older brother’s experiences mirror Michael’s.

Couldn’t the teacher have picked something easier to do? Like, say a pop quiz?

Well, jeeze, teacher. Why don’t we just kiss with tongues.

Even today, kindergarten is optional in many places (at least in Arizona). Who knows about 30 years ago in Canada? In first grade here, some kids have never been in school, some have been in private day care/nursery school, some have been in kindergarten. And for almost all, the teacher herself is a stranger, too.

because it’s not like they went to the same kindergarten…which we know they have since Liz was there last year.

Kids don’t really require this, if left alone Kids will always form their own bonds, without Adult help. I never had this happen in my school and soon after I knew all the kids and had formed bonds and friendships that I still have today!

yes grade ones don’t shake hands with their peers.

Don’t encourage them, they spread germs enough as it is.

This is why I don’t like going to church…….I don’t want to greet my neighbors

Note to all the germ-o-phobes out there. The reason kids get sick so easily today is we try too hard to protect them. They have no immunity to the common everyday (and generally harmless) bacteria. Forbid a child to shake hands with another because you are afraid of passing disease???? Give me a break!!!

Hear Hear! I’ve also never understood why some parents won’t immunize their children because the shot “might make the children sick”, when it’s almost a guarantee that if the children don’t get immunized they will get sick.Yes, the immunizations can have side effects, but they don’t usually occur without other factors being present. As far as the children contracting the disease(s) they’re being vaccinated for, that simply cannot happen. Most of the serums contain dead viruses and only a few contain live viruses but in either case it’s just enough of them to cause the body’s immune system to build the antibodies required to fight and in the case of the live ones, kill the viruses. This is how the immunity to the disease is built up.Also, more diseases can be passed by simply breathing the same air as an infected person than can be passed by shaking hands.

They all have the same question: What’s a “Neighbor” ??And, do I even Have one?.

Knowing the mental capacity of first graders, I’m surprised they aren’t drawn with their hands in all random directions shaking in the wind……….

When this was written kids didn’t get sick from shaking hands, or getting their shots, or eating gluten — it was a much healthier time!