A Tiger, a Duck, and a Place to Belong
A Halloween memory invites us to look at childhood through imagination, friendship, and the comfort of being known.
A tiger, a duck, and a very big Minion. It sounds like the beginning of a children’s story.
In this Halloween throwback from Nihao School, they share the scene with pumpkin decorations and a smiling group of children. As October begins, we’re enjoying this little piece of our school’s history—and the question it brings to mind: What makes a place where every little character can belong?
When the tiger has other plans
If you’ve ever spent time with a child in costume, you know the outfit rarely tells the whole story. A tiger might decide to make pancakes. A superhero might need someone to hold their hand. A child might spend more time exploring a costume’s zipper than pretending to be the character wearing it.
There is something delightful about leaving room for those possibilities.
In pretend play, children can decide who they are, what happens next, and how someone else might join them. NAEYC’s discussion of dress-up play emphasizes the value of children choosing how clothing and props fit into their imagined roles. An adult can enter that world with curiosity: “What is your tiger doing today?”
The answer may take the story somewhere wonderfully unexpected.
A familiar place for new possibilities
That openness is part of the school home we aim to create at Nihao. Familiar people, routines, and caring relationships provide continuity. New materials, stories, outdoor discoveries, and celebrations bring variety. Children have opportunities to explore something new alongside people who are getting to know their interests, their ideas, and their ways of joining in.
Every child gets a way in
A celebration also invites us to notice how differently children participate. One may be ready to show everyone their costume. Another may want to watch for a while. Someone else may prefer their everyday clothes and still have plenty to contribute to the fun.
We want to make room for each of them. An educator’s attention matters here: noticing a child’s cues, offering an invitation, and allowing time for a response. These small choices express what it means to help a child feel known.
Words with something to say
Language belongs in these relationships, too. At Nihao, Mandarin is woven into play, songs, stories, meals, and caring moments, with English also part of our environment. Children have things they want to communicate: an idea for a game, a request for help, an invitation to a friend. We value opportunities for language to take on meaning through that shared daily life.
An invitation for your next adventure
You can bring a little of this curiosity into play at home. The next time your child becomes an animal, a storybook character, or someone entirely of their own invention, try asking:
“Who could I be in your story?”
Then pause. You might be cast as the baby dragon, the shopkeeper, or the person responsible for making imaginary pancakes. Start with the role your child offers and see where the story goes.
Looking back at this Halloween memory, we’re grateful for the joy of sharing childhood together. At our small school home in San Mateo, we hope to give children a place to bring their ideas, build friendships, and grow in confidence—with caring adults and familiar companions nearby.
What does your child love pretending to be—and what unexpected role have they given you?
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