Our Big Voice
You know that I feel the most important thing I can give your child in preparation for kindergarten is a strong foundation for social and emotional regulation. That also includes relationship building and figuring out how to navigate all of the little awkward conversations and situations that happen even in preschool. Many traditional teachers are spending their time this week teaching the letter A and some crazy looking cartoon alligator and how to spell names – even friends names. 👀
If you want children to be successful and even excel in a skill you have to teach it even if you think they might know it already. I like to call it coaching. I observe and join play and listen to conversations that need my help. I’m there to give support.
Today we read about Shubert.
Shubert is the main character in a series of books are used to teach children social and emotional skills from conscious discipline. All children arrive in preschool ( kindergarten , first grade , tenth grade , life ) with a disposition to being more quiet or being a leader. Being quiet doesn’t mean that you give all of your power away . At least not in our world. So we are spending some time this week coaching through using a big voice. Examples:
A child is playing with a toy and another child walks up and grabs the toy. Child says “ they have to share.” Actually here I don’t make children share. What we teach children to say is… “Let me know when you’re finished so I can play.” The reason for that is many times a quiet child will just give over to a more verbal child and let them have whatever they’re playing with because they’re too timid to say no . This way we are coaching children to stand up for themselves and coaching our more vocal children to respect boundaries.
Ex2. Children can be wild and a little rambunctious at times. Sometimes a child that doesn’t want to play gets stuck in the middle of some rough play. We teach them to use their big voice. We teach them to say “Stop ! I don’t like that.” Think about how empowering and IMPORTANT this one skill is.
It would be easier for me just to walk in the room and referee children or just say stop it or take the toy away myself but they don’t learn anything. With my coaching method they are learning skills that I hope will follow them in life.
I hope to help you as parents understand conscious discipline and how it works as we go. Maybe you can try some of it at home?
Today for over an hour eight children played in one room.
Yes, it was a little bit crowded. But it gave me great teaching opportunities! These skills and opportunities don’t fit in a back back or a cubby to go home. We are teaching your child skills not just to be ready for kindergarten but for life. ❤️