Dibs: In Search of Self

by Virginia M. Axline

When he first began to be a member of our group, he moved closer to me, took my hand, talked very briefly to me. I was careful to accept only as much as he wanted to give; I never pushed him. I made it a point to acknowledge in a friendly way everything he did and said to encourage him to do more. And then, of course, the other children were so busy going about their own business that they accepted whatever Dibs did without question. Gradually Dibs started to follow directions and he was able to produce whatever instructions called for in a superior way. Then he would go over to the easel and paint. That was the first thing he did. He would concentrate on his work as though he were producing a masterpiece.”