Posts Tagged ‘language’

  1. Apr
    08
    2013

    One Monday Morning


    by PACE in Category: At Your Center/School,Child Behavior/Development,Everyday,For The Adults,Just For Fun

     

        ONE MONDAY MORNING  by Uri Shulevitz

     

    What happens on your Monday mornings?

    In Uri Shulevitz’s, One Monday Morning readers are drawn into an story of  how one lucky little boys is joined by some very special guests and how those guests seek out to visit the little boy over and over again.

    “The idea of the story is so childlike, the telling of it so effortless, and the book executed with such distinction that it belongs naturally among the true picture books we seem always to have had . . . A   book no child should miss.”–The Horn Book

    Click here to get your own copy of ONE MONDAY MORNING

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  2. Apr
    24
    2012

    Parents as a resource


    by Katie O'Neil in Category: At Your Center/School,Everyday,For The Adults,PACE

    Remember to use your parents as the valuable resource they are.  You probably have artists, distributors, foreign language speakers or chefs amongst your parents already.  Use them.  It’s cheap/free help for your school and it connects them more to your facility (which can result in future referrals).

    submitted by Marc Lariz, Play ‘N’ Learn Preschool


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  3. Apr
    09
    2012

    Communicating with Preschoolers


    by Katie O'Neil in Category: Child Behavior/Development,For The Adults,PACE

    Preschool children have their own language, unique to their age group.  For early childhood educators and parents, learning their language can be extremely useful in avoiding power struggles, making ourselves heard, and in understanding where they are coming from.  The following are some very general tips for speaking this unique and sometimes difficult language!

    1. Giving choices whenever possible.  Children are consistently at the mercy of the adults around them; overall, they have very little power or control over their lives, and are looking to find that power in any way they can.  Phrasing a request in the form of a choice often will make the child feel like they have some power, while also ensuring that you truly are in control because you have provided the choice.  For example; “Its time to go to school.  Would you like to put your shoes on at school, or in the car?”  Either way, their shoes will be on, but they will feel empowered because they were given a choice.

    2. Following through is the next very important piece of their language.  Following through does two things.  The first is that it sets a boundary for the child, which children need to feel safe.  The reason they often test boundaries is to see which of the adults around them will stop them; will keep them safe by saying no sometimes.  The second is that it sets a precedent between adult and child…i.e. if I tell a child repeatedly to stop throwing tanbark or I will ask them to leave the area, and I don’t ever ask them do leave the area, I have taught them that they do not have to listen to me and that my word does not mean much.  Following through not only helps the child to know their boundaries, but it sets a precedent of trust and respect between adult and child.

    3. Positive speaking and redirection are two other useful tools.  The teachers are trained to always put things in “I need you…”statements, rather than you need to.  If you begin your sentence this way, then you can finish it with what you need the child to do, rather than what you need them to stop doing.  Children under 5 are learning to focus on what others say…it takes a moment for them to even hear when you are addressing them. Because of this, they usually hear the end of a sentence.  Knowing this, it is better for them to hear “(I need you to) …keep your hands on your own body”, rather than “Please don’t)…hit your friends!”  Saying things in a positive way allows you to not spend all day saying no, and allows them to not spend all day hearing no!

    Of course, these tactics do not always work; they do not always avoid a power struggle, crying, etc.  Children will react in ways that surprise you and catch you off guard every day, and sometimes it seems like for no reason.  Keeping a level head and a calm demeanor is very important when this occurs.  Keeping things simple and clear, using choices, following through and keeping it positive will ensure that you will have more positive interaction with the children.

    Submitted by Leah Rosenthal-Kambic, KidTime, Inc.

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