Our Spring Tea, usually held mid-May, is one of the favorite traditions at King’s Wood. Children in the Kindergarten class choose a special guest to enjoy an afternoon of tea and treats. Through observation, Dr. Maria Montessori noted that children have a “preference for work (reality)” over play. When a child’s physical and mental energy are working in unison, they prefer to work with an intelligible aim, and Spring Tea is an opportunity for children to plan a special event for the people they love most and take it quite seriously. It gives children in their third year of the Montessori early childhood cycle a chance to work toward a purpose and relish in doing necessary and “important” work.
Preparation for the Spring Tea begins about a month before the event. First, the children create beautiful invitations made with much care and love. Lively conversations about who they will invite as their special guest or what outfit they will wear fills the room. Not only do the children create invitations, decorations, and gifts for their special guests, they also choose teacups collected over the years, linens, vases, and the locations for their tables for two. They also plan the menu and prepare food for a proper English tea.
On the day of the tea, beautiful dresses, fancy hats, dress shirts & ties, and big smiles fill the classroom. The children graciously welcome their special guest and serve them tea, fruit-infused water, finger sandwiches, fruit, and sweets. Children waltz with each other and later with their special guests. It is a very special day and a beloved King’s Wood tradition since 2013, and we hope the parents enjoy it just as much as the children had fun planning it.
