As an adult, we always talk about how we lose our flexibility-like someone has just taken it from us. We claim that kids are more flexible, they are better with change and they are more malleable. And while I do believe this is the case, I also feel like it is human nature (in adults and children alike) to prefer things to remain the same. Especially when things are good, we enjoy the comfort, the similarity in that individual or that person because we learn their nuances, their humor, their behavior and so forth. 

Thursday was flute teaching day. I have to laugh because I have three students who have been with me from the beginning and two students who are rather new (as of this year and last year) who are more on a beginning level. This same day, both of my students (from two different groups) came up to me telling me that they wish things would go back to how they used to be with "just us" meaning how it was the past three years. I explained to my students that the fact that we had MORE students was a beautiful sign that the program was growing. "Change is not always easy." I said. "But sometimes it is for the better." 

You can look at "no change" as inflexibility or "becoming stagnant" whereas for some kids, I think it is just a reassuring place, a place that brings comfort. For some, it may be the only part of their day that is not "constantly changing." Becoming used to change takes time. I think for kids, it sometimes even takes longer. Yes, kids are malleable. However, they are also inquisitive spirits wise beyond their years. They can sometimes sense discomfort in ways adults cannot. Just food for thought-particularly for those of us who are educators.