Noticing Temperature

Dear Ruth,

Today while we were playing and exploring in a hotel lobby, a light fixture in the floor caught your interest. You were running full speed past it, eyed it, and then stopped your speeding body mid run to investigate! You squatted down to get a better look at the light. You stuck your arm out and felt the top of the light with your fingers. The surface of the light was warm. You immediately pulled your hand back, looked up at me and made a noise. I asked you, "Is it hot? Maybe we shouldn't touch because it is too warm." You nodded your head at me, bent down again, and blew air at the light fixture in the ground. You then proceeded to sit next to the light, and every few seconds, would lean closer and blow air on it again. You would follow this by touching it and pulling your hand back when you realized the light was still warm. This went on for a minute or two, and you finally got up and began running around again. Throughout our time at this hotel, each time you would pass this light, you would squat down and feel it. You expressed joy with a huge smile on your face any time you'd pull your aunt or brother to the light and encourage them to feel it themselves. What a small, yet special moment we all shared together noticing the temperature of the light fixture in the ground.

Love,
TT
August 2022, 17 months

What It Means

You were delighted to investigate the light fixture in the ground. You followed your natural curiosity about the world around you and began to put prior knowledge about temperature into a real-life situation. You identified that the light was warm, and when things are "too warm" at home, what do we do? We blow air on them until they cool down. Like your beans at dinner. You did exactly this to the light fixture - but unlike our food at home, and despite your best efforts of blowing air, the light remained warm. This must have been an exciting discovery for you, as you continued to pull your aunt, your brother, and your TT to this light fixture as we waited for our room to be ready at the hotel. You initiated these interactions with your family members and communicated your excitement through smiling and babbling. You displayed a strong sense of self and confidence in your relationships with the people around you. You also displayed a general understanding of temperature, through differences between hot and cold.

Opportunities & Possibilities

As you continue to explore the world around you, I will encourage your curiosity by mentoring and scaffolding new learning experiences for you through your direct sense of touch. As our relationship continues to grow, you should feel empowered and nurtured to explore safely and to come to me, and any trusted adult with your questions. This summer, we can continue to learn about hot and cold by playing with ice and water. As the sun continues to shine, we will use hats and sunscreen to protect us from the heat. I will use my words to remind you that something is “too hot” to touch or eat, and we can continue blowing air food as we wait for it to cool down. Temperature is a very abstract concept until we can feel it – but as you continue to grow, Ruthie, you will begin to see changes in temperature through the seasons, and notice that this will impact how you feel, your clothes, and activities.

Response

Your inquisitive mind inspires me to help you discover and learn more. Watching you grow is the greatest blessing and I will be here for you as you learn about temperatures. Whether it’s warm or cold, you will always have my love and support.

Love, your #1 fan,
Mommy

Developmental Domains Observed

Attention Maintenance, Curiosity & Initiative in Learning, Relationships and Social Interactions with Familiar Adults, Understanding of Language (Receptive), Responsiveness to Language, Cause& Effect, Inquiry Through Observation and Investigation, Knowledge of the Natural World, Perceptual Motor-Skills and Movement Concepts, Safety.