What does belonging mean?
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People often ask what I mean when I talk about belonging.
For me, belonging is much more than being included.
At its heart, belonging is about feeling seen.
It's the feeling a child has when they know they don't have to change who they are to be accepted. It's knowing their ideas matter, their questions are welcome and their way of seeing the world has value.
I've often noticed that children flourish when they feel they belong. They become more confident to explore, to create, to take gentle risks and to share their own ideas. They aren't trying to find the "right" answer. They're simply free to be themselves.
Belonging doesn't usually happen through big moments.
It grows quietly.
It grows when a child feels listened to.
When their story is worth hearing.
When their culture, family traditions and experiences are welcomed into play rather than left at the door.
That's one of the reasons belonging sits at the heart of Storytime Scarves.
The scarves aren't designed to tell every child the same story. They're designed to leave enough space for children to bring their own stories, memories and imagination into their play.
Because every child already has a story.
Belonging begins when they know it's safe to tell it.
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You might also be wondering...
Why do you talk about noticing children?
Why do you create cultural collections?
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About Heidi
Hi, I'm Heidi, founder of Storytime Scarves.
I'm a Tiney Ofsted-registered childminder, graded Outstanding, and a parent of two. Over the past decade, through raising my own children and working as a childminder, I've developed a deep interest in child-led play, storytelling, belonging and the small moments that help children feel seen.
Ask Heidi is where I share the questions I'm asked most often, along with the observations that continue to shape my practice.