Unraveling the Mystery: Why Do We Recite the 'Boo Poem'?

Have you ever attended a Zip Zap class and found yourself pondering the intriguing phenomenon of one of the teachers choosing to take a nap right in the middle of the session? It might seem unusual at first glance, but there is a thoughtful and educational reason behind this seemingly odd behaviour.

Let me delve deeper into this curious practice…

In the vibrant and imaginative world of Zip Zap, we refer to this particular segment of our class as the ‘boo poem’. During this time, one of our dedicated Class Teachers opts to take a short break from the lively singing and activities, retreating beneath a cosy blanket for a little rest. Meanwhile, the other Teacher engages the children by using a castanet to recite a short poem. While this may appear somewhat strange to an outsider, it is deeply rooted in the concept of object permanence, a crucial developmental milestone for young children.

By the time babies reach around 4 to 5 months of age, their vision and hearing capabilities have significantly progressed, allowing them to start mastering a variety of new skills. At this stage, they begin to understand that objects and familiar faces exist even when they are not in their line of sight. This newfound awareness leads them to reach for toys that are cleverly hidden under blankets, and they find immense joy in playing games like peekaboo, which reinforce this understanding.

Returning to the ‘boo poem’, the Teacher who is hiding under the blanket creates a playful atmosphere while the other Teacher recites the poem accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the castanet. The gentle clattering of the castanet captures the children's attention and directs their focus toward the blanket, emphasising the playful disappearance of the other Teacher. The poem, combined with the lively beat of the castanet, not only introduces children to rhythm but also engages them in hearing a new nursery rhyme each week, which is always an exciting aspect of our classes. Once the nursery rhyme concludes and after a dramatic count to three, the Teacher emerges from beneath the blanket with an enthusiastic 'HELLO', creating a moment of surprise and delight for the children. This sequence is typically repeated three times, allowing the children to grasp the concept that someone can vanish but will always return, reinforcing their understanding of object permanence.

While the ‘boo poem’ serves as a focal point for exploring object permanence each week, we incorporate this essential concept into various other activities throughout the Zip Zap class. For instance, we have Colin and Dave, our playful puppets, who enjoy a little nap at the beginning of the class and of course, our Peekaboo song. We also engage the little ones with props that disappear and then reappear, as well as colourful scarves that are perfect for peekaboo games, all designed to enrich their understanding of the world around them.

Our knowledgeable Educational Psychologist, Dr. K. Robinson, emphasises the significance of developing object permanence as a crucial milestone in a child's life. She notes, “the development of object permanence is such an important milestone in a child’s life as underdeveloped object permanence can lead to separation anxiety, as the child has not yet learned that when an object (or parent/carer) is out of sight, it continues to exist. If a child has not yet negotiated the developmental stage of permanency, they are likely to experience distress when not connected with their parent or carer and may seek to be connected to them at all times.” In addition, Louise Bomber has authored several insightful books that delve into this topic further, providing valuable resources for parents and educators alike.

We continue to build upon these concepts in our Little Zippers classes as well, observing how toddlers grow in confidence week after week. It’s not uncommon to see them eagerly approaching and playfully shouting ‘boo’ or even tickling toes during this interactive segment. However, it’s also quite normal for some toddlers, who once revelled in this part of the class, to occasionally feel upset or frightened by it. This reaction is simply a part of their cognitive development and memory recall, a natural phase that many children experience. Often, such feelings pass within a few weeks, and during this transitional period, we are always available to offer support and reassurance to both the children and their parents.

So there you have it! Now you can rest assured that we do not employ lazy Teachers at Zip Zap who simply enjoy napping during class. Rather, we are dedicated educators who utilise creative methods to support and nurture the developmental growth of each child. A wise person once told me during a challenging time with my own children, “Everything is just a phase; it will pass.” This simple reminder kept me grounded through the ups and downs of navigating object permanence and separation anxiety. Fortunately, we have moved beyond that stage now, and I cherish the progress we’ve made!