Laura Delgado, who founded and directs The Nest at The Montessori Tree, joins us on the blog today to share a bit of her vast wisdom about children, parents, education, and “smallness.” She also invites you to a lovely annual event for toddlers and their parents in South Austin this weekend.

One of my daughter’s favorite books ever was You are (not) Small by Anna Kang. In the book, two creatures struggle to agree about which of them is big and which is small. Eventually, they come to realize that size is relative, of course.

I loved this book because it inspired so many conversations with my daughter about her size and how she felt about being small in a world full of big people. Frankly, she continues to have mixed feelings about it.

Just the other day, my husband commented on how big she was getting and she said, “Don’t say that. I want to be small still. I want to be teeny tiny.”

I imagine many children feel this way. While they certainly appear frustrated, at times, about not being able to do everything they want to do on account of their size, I also think many relish their “smallness.” It’s as if they know how fleeting childhood really is . . . says the mom who can’t fathom that her daughter will soon be entering the tween years!

On the other hand, we, as adults, often find ourselves amazed at how quickly our children are growing. And, many times, we feel compelled to comment, “Look how big you are!”

Years ago, I asked a young friend, “Are you ready to use the potty? You’re big now.” Of course, I falsely assumed that he wanted to be big and that my question would somehow motivate him to use the potty.

And, of course, it backfired. He was quick to respond, “But, I don’t want to be big.”

I felt that deeply! And, it taught me a valuable lesson about the assumptions and biases we bring into our classroom and how important it is to continually challenge those assumptions in our work with children.

Speaking of size, a huge assumption I’ve witnessed in and out of the classroom is the idea that “bigger is better.” Perhaps, even in Texas, where everything is bigger, that notion is being increasingly challenged, as it should be. Because, in truth, we know that there is value in all sizes, right?

Perhaps I’m a little more sensitive to that line of thinking because I was always the smallest kid in the class. I also grew up in a time and place where children’s voices weren’t always valued, and, admittedly, I began to believe that my voice didn’t matter because I was small.

Fast forward a few years, I find myself advocating for all things “small.” Besides working with toddlers in spaces filled with small furniture and materials, I am passionate about supporting small schools and small school owners.

Since starting my own small program, almost six years ago, and having witnessed and experienced the value that small schools have brought to our family’s life and to our broader community, especially through the pandemic, I feel strongly that small schools should be acknowledged and celebrated more. And, now that I know that my voice does indeed matter, even if I’m “small,” I want to use it more!

This year, I’m thrilled to do my part by collaborating with thirteen other small schools in hosting our 3rd Annual Small Schools of South Austin Tour on Saturday, October 19th from 9am to Noon. It’s a celebration, of sorts, of the diverse program offerings available to families in South Austin. And, also, an easy way for families to explore some unique options they may not have previously considered (as we are not always the first to show up on a Google search.)

Parents, I cannot emphasize enough what a unique opportunity this is for you! Whether you are currently looking for a school or looking ahead to the future, this Saturday you will have a chance to visit as many schools as you can in one morning. Plus, children are welcome, so there's no need to arrange childcare! Did I also mention it’s FREE?

If there’s one thing I know about small school owners, it’s that they have BIG hearts and I know that each of our participating school owners is ready to open their doors to you to showcase their passion and dedication to providing children with meaningful and engaging alternative learning experiences. If you’re even a little bit curious, I invite you to come check us out!

For more information and a full listing of schools, you can follow me @themontessoritree or find the event on Facebook. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Laura Delgado | The Nest at The Montessori Tree