Last spring children made wishes and hung them onto a tree on the playground at school. Wishes are important. The tradition of a Wishtree is worldwide. We were excited to make our very own. Everyday those wishes would flutter, and smile back at children.
Summer arrived, and the wishes were as strong as ever.
Fall is beautiful in New England. The wishes kept hanging on tight. They would not be outdone by the colorful leaves.
In winter the wishes, albeit somewhat faded, look bright against the snow. They dance and play. Children smile.
Here is our Wishtree dancing in the breeze a year ago:
Here is our Wishtree fluttering and smiling last week:
Perhaps Cinderella said it best, “A dream is a wish your heart makes.”
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
I love, love this!
It is one of my favorite things I brought to school. I commented over on your sled post. Ha!
This is wonderful. 💜🙏🏼
Thank you, Ritu! May 1st is the traditional day for people to put wishes on a wishtree. Your preschoolers would love doing this if you have a tree at school.
Here in the UK, there isn’t the concept of a wishing tree. But it sounds so lovely!
In Britain, people used to hammer coins (wishes) into trees. Thank goodness it’s now frowned upon. Ribbons are more popular. There’s a famous tree in Ireland, Japan, and India. Each are quite different, and a sight to see. Yes, it’s a lovely idea!
Oh, wow! I’d not heard of either of them! Thanks for enlightening me, Jennie!
My pleasure, Ritu! 😀
I love how the wishes held steadfast through all the seasons!
I do, too. Faded, but steadfast. 🙂
🙂
What a wonderful way to make those wishes tangible.
Thank you, Pam. True hands-on learning.
Oh, Jennie. That tree has some serious magic. BEAUTIFUL
I think it does! Thank you, Flower.
Your wish tree is amazing!!
Thanks so much, Darlene. Did you know wishtrees are all over the world? I wonder if Amanda and Leah have seen one…
They haven´t but maybe they will. Thanks xo
That would be exciting! “Amanda and the Lost Wish” 🙂
Beautiful!
Thank you, Bette! We are both lucky to live where all four seasons have beauty and majesty.
I had never heard of a wish tree until I saw it on your site, and your one is a wonderful example.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Pete! When your grandson is a year or two older, read to him, Wishtree by Katherine Applegate. He is already savvy, and he will love this book. Promise.
Love the wish tree, Jenny. thanks for sharing.
I’m so glad. Thank you, John!
😊
what a wonderful idea!
I didn’t know about wishtrees until I read Katherine Applegate’s book, Wishtree (for 8+ yrs.). What a fabulous book. So, wishtrees are all over the world. Google it, and you’ll be amazed. If Mary’s school has tree on the playground, her school might want to do this. I think May 1st is the date people put their wishes on a wishtree.
my wife loves that book, but hse is not sure she could do a wishtree at her school since they do not own the property…
Ah ha! Of course not.
too bad; I’m sure her students would love it…
I think so.
You amaze me with your wonderful projects for the little ones.
Thank you so much, Don!
What a beautiful idea – wishes are so important.
Yes, they really are. Thank you!
Jennie, are those ‘reading/listening/sharing/gathering/thinking’ stumps around the tree? What a perfect spot.
Great question! No, the tree stumps are actually the boarder for the big sandbox, yet they are often a sitting and reflecting spot. Thank goodness the tree happens to be right next to the sandbox.
What a beautiful update, Jennie.
Thank you, Dan. I’ve been waiting to get a photo of every season. I plan to have them framed as a group and give it to school.
That will be wonderful.
I’ll take a photo. 🙂
Wishes are beautiful, as is your tree, any time of the year.
Hear, hear! Thanks, Pete.
I love that idea. Do you add new ones? Take down those that are fulfilled? Hmm… My brain is spinning.
I’m glad your brain is spinning! At some point I suppose the wishes will come down, but no one wants to disturb them right now.
Beautiful photo and a beautiful idea to make a wish tree. Are the wishes *refreshed* every so often? What happens if one flies away? Does a child become discouraged or encouraged by that?
These are great questions, Ally. Well, the wishtree is barely a year old. So far, nothing has blown away. We picked great rolls of cloth that would last. Children remember the whole experience of making a wish and tying it onto the tree. We climbed ladders with children. It was wonderful. I doubt children remember their specific wish; more importantly they remember how special it was to make a wish and create a wishtree. That’s far more important in the long run.
Jennie, this is beautiful!
Thank you, Charles!
Reblogged this on charles french words reading and writing and commented:
Please enjoy this wonderful post from the extraordinary teacher, Jennie!
Thank you so much, Charles!
Love this – reminds me of a phrase/image/tune I’ve had in my mind for a few years…”The Dreaming Tree”. Hanging wishes/dreams with scraps of fabric comes to mind as a very wistful & quilty thing to do, too!
I love it!
Of course I want more details. Do the kids share the wishes or are they private? Do they come down at some point? Do you ever hear if any of the wishes come true? I love the images.
They share their wishes, if they want to. We haven’t talked about taking them down yet. And no, we haven’t heard if any wishes have come true. This event was truly about the experience of making a wish, and the wish itself was not as important as the big pig picture. Make sense?
Yes it makes sense. I just went off wondering.
Your wondering was a good thing.
Oh, what a delightful thing to do. In school or home yard! Love it. xx
Yes! It can be done anywhere. I found a wishtree on the beach in Cape Cod. The wishes were shells. It was lovely!
Really loved that, so so fun and interesting
Thank you.
Jennie, I love all your photos and especially of New England. I spent some time in New Hampshire some years ago. It is beautiful.
It really is, Jane. Thank you.
xx
A lovely post, Jennie. The wish tree is a fantastic idea.
Thank you, Robbie!
Wonderful, my Dear Annie! Sadly, India has no tradition of this at all.
There is the Kalpataru wishing tree
Serves no practical purpose! 😦
That’s a shame.
🙂
Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
Many thanks, Michael!
Great, you have preserved the wish-tree all over the winter storms. xx Michael
I had copies made of those photos, framed them in a collage, and will give it to the school at our staff meeting tomorrow evening.
This post made my heart smile. It’s beautiful 😍
Thank you.
And gorgeous in every one!
Thank you, Norah. I had the photos framed for school, and presented it to the staff at Monday night’s staff meeting. Tomorrow I will post that photo.
I’m sure they all love it!
They do!
Wonderful post.
Amazing tree.
Thank you.