Explore " reggio" with insightful episodes like "Episode 66: A Reggio Approach to Early Childhood", "E44: Repetition, Repetition, and a Little Compulsion", "E42: Interview with a Botanist - Planting and Gardening with Children", "Updated Intro Episode!" and "E39: Children Caring for Creepy Crawlies" from podcasts like ""The Educator's Blueprint", "The Speckled Bees: A Celebration of Childhood", "The Speckled Bees: A Celebration of Childhood", "The Speckled Bees: A Celebration of Childhood" and "The Speckled Bees: A Celebration of Childhood"" and more!
Join us as we explore MTSS/PBIS in an Early Childhood Setting with Ms. Tanisha Stanciel, Ed.S., from the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District. She unpacks the Reggio method, including relationships, environment, and the power or Social Stories with Spot!
Resources:
MRH ECC Matrices
Spot
Social Story with Spot
Picture of Social Story with Spot
This week, we are talking about Repetition! Repetition comes in many forms. This may include reading the same story one hundred times, learning extensions and games that repeat the same skill, peer tutoring, or passively observing a lesson or activity completed by another child. Repetition may also come from routine or the environment. Knowing what to expect, and having things happen in an ordered way, helps children to know what to expect and feel at ease. When the environment is predictable, a child feels safe and secure, which establishes the optimal environment for learning.
We go through a few studies and we talk about why repetition is an important part of learning and skill mastery! In children, these neural connections are only beginning to be formed. Repetition is a necessary building block that allows them to strengthen the connections in the brain that help them learn. "Deer paths to highways".
Repetition helps to strengthen the brain’s neural processors for learning, teaches children to practice, master and retain knowledge, provides the opportunity for practice and reinforcement, is needed for skill mastery and success. Children learn through repetition and memorization: self-discipline and critical reflection, coordination, differentiation of variations and differences in the world around them, confidence to progress, internalization of concepts, synthetization, analyzation and application. Research examining motor-skill acquisition suggests that early movements vary highly but become more stable as skill develops. As the progression from variable to stable movements would indicate the shift from novice to expert, it could help adults recognize if mastery has been achieved and when a child is ready to move on to the next activity.
We also discuss when repetitive behavior becomes a red flag. Check out E9: Interview with an Early Interventionist, E12: Interview with a Special Education and Autism Teacher, and E24: Interview with a Speech and Language Pathologist Ft. Kim Hiday to learn more about intervention!
We end with a conversation about supporting repetition though routines, free play, learning extensions, multi-sensory instruction, self-reflection, and PATIENCE!
While a child’s inclination towards repetition is not the most charming part of childhood (and is maybe even one of the top most annoying), it is an extremely important fundamental of child development! Tell that story again, sing that song again, play that game again. When we support the child’s need for repetition, we are trusting and respecting their nature. We are supporting their learning and their development. We are celebrating childhood. And that’s what we are all about here on the Speckled Bees.
https://montessoriacademy.com.au/repetition-child-development-montessori/
http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1234750.pdf
https://360behavioralhealth.com/how-to-know-when-a-childs-repetitive-behaviors-are-a-problem/
This week, we are so excited to bring you an Interview with a Botanist! Lucy interviewed Rachel Tenney (BS in Plant Science) of Plant School Podcast and Tenney Plants. Rachel is super down-to-earth, fun, and extremely passionate about plants! She makes plant care simple even for those of us with the blackest of thumbs! She is also a mother and is the perfect person to teach us about how and why to include children in our planting endeavors.
She teaches us all about the benefits of caring for plants including teaching children gratitude, boosting the immune system and building tolerances to allergens, releasing serotonin and helping to stabilize mood, increasing focus, encouraging picky eaters to try new foods, establishing healthy nutritional habits, and exercising in a moderate and sustainable form. She also gives really practical ideas on how to involve children in plant care and gardening. Rachel also gives us some examples of great plants to bring to your indoor environments especially if you are new to this plant business.
Rachel also gives some advice to moms about not allowing yourself to feel guilty. "Be happy with what you can accomplish, …teach your kids to love the things you love and I think it will pass on to them, and…they will grow to see the things you love and grow into that as well." Please go check her out at one of her several platforms!
References and Resources:
Welcome to the Speckled Bees: A Celebration of Childhood! Early childhood educators - Spencer and Lucy - discuss children, how they develop, and how teachers and guardians can support them in the hard work it takes to learn and grow! Sometimes, supporting children can get lonely and frustrating, so we are also here to help you find the fun in it!
In this introductory episode, we introduce ourselves and offer our credentials, discuss the reasons that we are starting a podcast, shout out our biggest supporters, and tell you where you can find us!
Buzzsprout signup link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1783088
https://thespeckledbees.buzzsprout.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thespeckledbees/
https://m.facebook.com/thespeckledbeespodcast
https://www.tiktok.com/@thespeckledbees
"Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Last week we talked about the beautiful side by talking about art in nature. But nature is not always beautiful. This week, Lucy introduces a less glamorous subject, although equally intriguing, by talking about Creepy Crawlies! Hear us out! Don’t turn us off yet! This is a really amazing subject, we promise!
We start with a list about why you should let and even ENCOURAGE children to play with bugs and insects. Children learn scientific principles, practice environmental stewardship, develop compassion, and work on preliteracy skills. We talk about a few activities for varying levels of comfort and then we provide some tips for adults (especially those who are a little squeamish about these things, haha!)
Books:
The Disgusting Critters Series
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/DCR/disgusting-critters
The Honeybee Hardcover – by Kirsten Hall (Author), Isabelle Arsenault
References and Resources:
https://spelloutloud.com/observing-worms-with-preschoolers.html (worm observation tank)
https://www.education.com/science-fair/article/spider-science/
https://purposefulmommy.com/let-kids-play-with-bugs/#:~:text=When%20you%20let%20your%20kids%20play%20with%20bugs%2C%20they%20learn,us%20from%20having%20too%20many!
https://www.perfectbee.com/learn-about-bees/the-science-of-bees/science-bees-overview
Welcome back for Part II of our literacy deep dive! These half is the fun half where we take what we talked about last week and give real examples of how to encourage a love of literacy in our homes and classrooms. We also discuss whether it is call a cootie catcher or a fortune teller. What do you say?
What is something you want to try? Take a picture and tag us in it on facebook and instagram!
Don't forget to leave us a review! Today, we are talking about maybe the most common and comfortable curriculum area: literacy centers. While this seems very straightforward, we wanted to break it down more so we can better focus our energies and not go into the ‘push-down curriculum' zone.
We had SO much to cover that we had to split this episode into two parts! In part one, we go over the NAEYC's position statement and then we tackle the continuum of reading and writing development.
Spencer shouts out the Planet Word Museum in DC ( https://planetwordmuseum.org/ ) and we play a super nerdy but super cool game where we try to guess the definition of some of the top rarest words! Do you know them?
Buzzsprout Affiliate Link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1783088
https://www.amazon.com/Pterodactyl-Worst-Alphabet-Book-Ever/dp/1492674311/ref=pd_bxgy_img_1/131-0869157-7909015?pd_rd_w=InNfq&pf_rd_p=6b3eefea-7b16-43e9-bc45-2e332cbf99da&pf_rd_r=4NAZFYEWMJWS17ZPNHN3&pd_rd_r=0cb2ff6a-b1fc-44a6-ac33-d491d6728729&pd_rd_wg=nhrL6&pd_rd_i=1492674311&psc=1
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/everyday-steps-reading-and-writing
http://literacy.nationaldb.org/index.php/literacy-development-continuum/
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/nov2017/emergent-writing
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/read-together-support-early-literacy
http://monocolibraries.org/files/6%20early%20literacy%20skills.pdf
https://www.readingrockets.org/article/early-literacy-policy-and-practice-preschool-years
Today, we are continuing our exploration of early childhood curriculum areas with block play! Research has consistently shown that block play supports the development of mathematical thinking, social skills, abstract thinking, creativity, and most recently literacy (Hanline, Milton, Phelps 2009). We go over a brief history of the unit block then we get in to the benefits. Of course, we have to do a developmental continuum break-down! We also talk about the adults role and how important it is for both the adult and the child. Block play has been shown to actually increase parent knowledge of early development in the areas of math and science education, while at the same time providing opportunities for young children to increase their math, science, social and literacy skills.
References and Resources
“Evaluate Your Block Center Around 21st Century Skills: A Checklist for Teachers" https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2015/using-blocks
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/what-research-tells-us-about-block-play-and-stem-learning
https://docs.msl.mt.gov/librariesweb/documents/Ready2Read/PlaySpace/pg_rrps_stagesinblockplay.pdf
https://www.scld.org/7-stages-of-block-play-building-and-early-learning/
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/blocks
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2020/rocking-and-rolling-building-new-skills-block-construction-toddler
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2015/using-blocks
We are so excited to be back!!! We've missed our weekly discussions on childhood! We come in hot talking about curriculum areas and decided to cover a tricky one: MATH.
The bulk of this episode follows NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) position statement on Early Childhood Mathematics: Promoting Good Beginnings which is a joint position statement of (NAEYC) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
We talk about how to approach math skills and attitudes, cover math milestones, and give lots of ideas on how to incorporate math! What would you add to the list?
Books:
References and Resources:
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/math-talk-infants-and-toddlers
http://www.ccs.fau.edu/hbbl3/wp-content/uploads/publications/KelsoFuchs2016_mobileconjugate.pdf
https://www.understood.org/articles/en/math-skills-what-to-expect-at-different-ages
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/practiceguide/18
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Docs/practiceguide/early_math_pg_111313.pdf
https://inventorsoftomorrow.com/2018/02/26/math-development/
https://www.pbs.org/parents/learn-grow/all-ages/math
Goals, resolutions, and ‘fresh starts’ are words we use to welcome the symbolic new year on a bright note. How can we translate these ideas for children to start their own new year with a fresh face? We talk about the goals we have, how to set up successful goals (we review SMART goals, of course), and the benefits of goal setting for children. Don't forget that goal setting IS MUCH HARDER WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN. Therefore, it takes a lot of modeling, conversation, and teamwork to create a positive and successful experience.
We are taking a little break during January, so we will meet up with y'all again in February, 2022!
BOOK LIST:
Dreams Come True, All They Need Is You by Mike Dooley
Salt in his shoes by Deloris Jordan
The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett
LINKS:
book: https://www.amazon.com/UnSelfie-Empathetic-Succeed-All-About-Me-World/dp/1501110071
https://www.familyeducation.com/life/new-years-resolutions/top-10-new-years-resolutions-families
https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/style/how-to-teach-kids-perseverance-goal-setting/
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-silverman-guest-column-st-0211-20180208-story.html
Baby, it's cold outside! Why do we prioritize outdoor play even when temperatures drop? There are so many reasons, and we try to cover a few in this episode. It boosts your immune system and helps children retain brown fat, offers amazing sensorimotor experiences, and gives opportunities to study STEM. We even talk about how babies take naps outside in freezing temperatures in Finland.
After discussing the benefits, Lucy provides tips for parents and teachers to navigate cold weather with children. She talks us through fabrics and clothing options, different fun activities, and how to take the first step!
Tag us in your cold weather play pictures and videos!
Resources:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151016-the-real-reason-germs-spread-in-the-winter
https://rhythmsofplay.com/20-ways-to-play-in-the-rain/
https://www.redtedart.com/snow-day-activities-outdoors/
Support the showHolidays tend to be food-centric anyways, but they are extra heavy during this time of year. You hear a lot of conversations about food, nutrition, and weight. We thought now would be the perfect time to discuss how to approach nutrition with our children in a productive way! For this conversation, I invited Mary Becerra, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, to come talk with me! Mary is all around just a really cool person and she has so many great ideas and resources to help us out as teachers and parents!
I am sure we will have Mary back on at some point since there is SO much to talk about! We cover the division of responsibility, Baby Led Weaning, struggles with feeding young children, and tips to overcome those. Mary teaches about a child's innate ability to control energy intake and listen to fullness cues and she gives some awesome ways to promote a healthy relationship with food in children.
Mary also gives specific examples (and shares some resources!) of what children can eat at what stages; of ways to include extra nutrients in foods for children with allergies, aversions, and specialized diets; and of nutritious and inexpensive snack options.
Since Mary is also a bomb mom who balances work and family, we end our discussion by talking about following your passions and achieving goals while being a parent. She gives some advice and some encouragement to young parents.
Resources:
If you have any questions, Mary is a wealth of knowledge! Reach at to her on Instagram @mcbecerra
Eatright.org
kidseatincolor.com (Instagram: @kidseatincolor)
Shannon Tripp: https://hoo.be/shantripp
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9693-feeding-your-baby-the-first-year
cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-to-introduce-solid-foods.html
Studies regarding children’s innate ability to regulate food intake:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16376632/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4798905/
Did you have a secret hideout when you were a kid?
November is the time of that we seek out warmth, comfort, and security. It's the perfect time to build secret hide-outs with children! Creating secret forts, dens, hideouts, and playhouses isn’t just any random kind of play. Studying shelters gives the children an opportunity to explore the ideas of protection, safety, and structure.
We can find so much wonderful inspiration for these projects by familiarizing ourselves with our local tribes! For our project, we looked at the Doeg/Dogue Tribe and worked to build Yi-hakans (stick structures covered with woven mats). We then collaborated to make a sculpture inspired by western Native American houses called Wickiups. The children picked grass and dug dirt to add to water and then mixed it up to make a clay to build up on the stick structure.
There are many benefits to making and playing in forts. Many of them overlap with previous subjects (go back to E1: Messy Play, E2: Risky Play, E8: Real Tools and Woodworking), but children need repetition to strengthen those neural pathways. It encourages independence and confidence, problem solving skills, literacy skills, social skills, motor skills, and a love of the outdoors. We provide a list of ways to encourage this type of play in your homes and in your classrooms.
Don't forget to Leave Your Leaves this year!!
Picture Book List:
Shelter by Celine Claire
Once I was Very Scared by Chandra Ghosh Ippen
A House is a House For Me by Mary Ann Hoberman, Betty Fraser
Chapter Books:
Magic Tree House Books by Mary Pope Osborne
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
https://native-land.ca/
https://www.nwf.org/Home/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2019/09-25-19-Leave-the-Leaves
https://www.paulaspencerscott.com/single-post/kids-forts
https://phillywaldorf.com/building-forts-minds-importance-child-built-space/
https://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Houses_in_Early_Virginia_Indian_Society
https://www.journalofplay.org/sites/www.journalofplay.org/files/pdf-articles/10-2-Article4-role-playing-childrens-literature.pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z_vc7769QPludzCXU33MmkKOdQcLeX3f/view?usp=sharing
https://books.google.com/books?id=Lmg142dU3wQC&pg=PA8&lpg=PA8&dq=wickiups+covered+in+mud&source=bl&ots=X2FNNj3O9Z&sig=ACfU3U0UWV40XGBnyXFC-RGPMhyHlNWQag&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjNmrGlrcDqAhXumHIEHa4LDLAQ6AEwFHoECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=wickiups%20covered%20in%20mud&f=false
"Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
*Trigger warning! Marked as explicit because we talk about sexual assault (minutes 7:30 to 10:30) in discussing Chuck Close.
November is National Native American Heritage Month! One way we can honor and celebrate Indigenous and other minority cultures is by better acquainted with artisans from these communities. Our resident atelierista, Spencer, discusses some amazing artists who are relatable to children.
Georgia O’Keeffe - Her sweeping imagery of nature and bright colors are very enjoyable for kids.
- “My name is Georgia”
Frida Kahlo - She is one of the best artists to introduce children to ideas of portraiture.
- “The Story of Frida Kahlo”
Jean Michel Basquiat - His use of bright colors and sketch-like drawings are appealing to children.
- “Life Doesn't Frighten Me”
Yayoi Kusama - She is an extraordinary artist who uses polka dots. She is perfect to bring up this time of year because of her use of pumpkins and gourds!
- http://yayoi-kusama.jp/e/information/
Maria Tallchief - America's first prima ballerina was a Native American woman!
- “Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina”
- Video
Vashti Harrison - She is an author/illustrator with a cartoonish style who depicts young black children taking on the world.
Hair Love Book
Hair Love Video
Isamu Noguchi - A Japanese-American artist known for his sculpture, public artworks, stage sets, and several mass-produced lamps and furniture pieces.
What do you think of us making this a monthly minisode?
Resources:
The map of Indigenous People - https://native-land.ca/
https://www.ncai.org/initiatives/native-american-heritage-month
https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2019/may/21/museum-art-collections-study-very-male-very-white
https://www.apollo-magazine.com/native-american-art-hasnt-changed-museums-have/
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/museums-and-historical-spaces-disrespect-native-american-history
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/5-native-american-artists-you-should-know/hwICZEKk3E5BJw
https://ruthmillington.co.uk/important-black-visual-artists/
https://www.vmfa.museum/about/rumors-of-war/
https://ruthmillington.co.uk/women-in-art-11-female-artists-to-know-past-to-present/
"Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"The light is everywhere, but to “see it”, paradoxically, it must be turned on in the mind”
- Loris Malaguzzi
We were inspired by the Jack-o'-lantern for this week's episode. The extreme sensory experience of the lighted up pumpkin really sets the tone for the Halloween season. That launched us into a discussion on light focused holidays! We go through Halloween, The Autumn Festival (yum, moon cakes!), Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years, Iemanja, Christmas, Lunar New Year, Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr, and Saint Lucia Day. Light seems to be a universal way to bring emotion, tradition, and symbolism into holidays. We hope we were able to convey the respect we have for the different cultures we talked about.
We then talk about using light and shadow play as a really impactful tool. In fact, it is considered one of the Hundred Languages of Children in the Reggio Emilia inspired curriculum. It is an important way children explore, communicate, and learn about the world. It hits socioemotional by adding warmth, addressing sensory overload, and providing a platform to have conversations about fear; cognitive by letting children see things in a “new light”, introducing perspective and paradigms, promoting sense of self, and body awareness; STEM through introducing the scientific method and introducing shapes, density, color, size, and length; language by introducing new vocabulary like transparent, translucent, opaque, shadow, diffusing, transmitting, reflection, and patterns; and community by talking about routines, cultures, and traditions.
We also made a list of ways to bring light and shadow play into classrooms and homes:
1. Light Tables, Flashlights, Candles, battery operated tea lights, and string lights
2. Sidewalk shadow tracing
3. Build a Shadow Theater
4. Shadow Tag
5. Shadow Dancing, Glow Light Dance Party
6. Study Lights in Holidays
Spencer goes through an amazing project she oversaw as the atelierista where the children put on a whole light show inspired by artists: https://www.thecompassschool.com/locations/manassas/?keyword=the%20compass%20school%20manassas&gclid=Cj0KCQjw8eOLBhC1ARIsAOzx5cEeX_qCX6eW4vXXX8MrgSLcpRGRtZD_LWTcGI1sXmCHYp8Ddka3_G8aAuMoEALw_wcB
The bottom of that page shows some gorgeous pictures of it!
How do you use lights in your holiday celebrations? Do you use lanterns, candles, fireworks, twinkle lights? Did we miss any holidays that you think should be on the list?
References:
https://childcareeducationexpo.co.uk/learning-from-the-reggio-approach-light-and-reflection/
https://www.cosa.k12.or.us/sites/default/files/materials/events/8_big_ideas_cosa_feb_2016.pdf
https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/christmas-around-the-world/traditions/holidays-of-light/
https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-other/ramadan3.htm
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_general_lunar.htm
https://www.mass.edu/stem/documents/pr
What kind of masks can you think of? Masks have developed a whole different meaning over the last couple of years. Regardless how you feel about them, masks have become a normal part of our lives and children are fascinated by them. Spencer talks about how to bring joy and culture back into the subject. We discuss themes and the problems you run into when you try to force them into your curriculum, but how powerful it is when you find a topic that the children are interested in.
This was definitely the case with Ms. Spencer's art project study on masks! We talk about how the topic came about organically and how she ran with it. She introduced a different category of masks each week. They started out talking about masks used for celebrations like Venetian carnival masks, Dinayang masks, African Fatima masks, Junkanoo masks, Day of the Dead masks and facial paint, Dancing Devil masks of Venezuela, and Red Goblin masks of Japan. The children each made a masquerade mask.
Next, they talked about ritual and ceremonial masks like the Egyptian priest masks and African ritual masks (which the children were inspired by for their own masks). For this topic, they talked a lot about symbolism and color theory. Then they moved on to performance masks. They talked about masks of Greek theater, THALIA, Japanese Kabuki masks, and Beijing opera masks (which were the project that the children made). They also talked a little bit of modern theater like The Lion King on Broadway and even Pinkfong Baby Shark with the little hats.
To transition into the last category, they talked about sports masks since they combine performance with protection. That got them ready to talk about how masks keep us safe. Spencer finishes up our discussion by taking us through some of the health and safety histories of masks. We talk about the surprising origins of the Plague Doctor masks and discuss how this is a great way to introduce hope to children as this is not the first epidemic in history. She showed the children the first firefighter helmet (The Nealy Smoke Mask) and the cowboy bandana. That led into the development of medical masks and even their role during the Spanish Flu. There are pictures from that time that almost look just like our society today. They ended the project by decorating their own reusable safety masks.
Don't forget to show us pictures of your favorite masks!
Resources:
Mask Presentation - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18WPcr0W_hk-lIf2-Z-_H90TrCvnyQsjcF_jILhQtmnE/edit?usp=sharing
The Color Game - https://color.method.ac/
African Masks - https://www.artyfactory.com/africanmasks/
History of Medical Masks - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7255306/
"Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Does your child believe there are monsters under the bed? Is encouraging the idea of Santa lying and manipulating your children? Lucy gets her nerd on this week as we discuss the development of magical thinking! We talk about different developmental theorists and theories. We zone in on Piaget's idea of the Preoperational stage of development from about 2-8 and different characteristics that contribute to the belief in magic and monsters.
We list the benefits of magical thinking, dramatic play, and dress up and even talk about gun play and superhero play and give ideas to help redirect to help it be productive and to keep it evolving. We then go into a specific list of why it is important to have traditions and celebrate holidays.
We talk about how to encourage imaginative thinking and play including going along with their games and imagination (pick your battles and trust children), offering open-ended toys and dress up clothes, letting your children experience boredom (limit screen time), and reading to your child. We make a list of some great books about monsters and Halloween.
We end with talking about the transition out of the preoperational stage and what that means. This is when children really develop a conscience and start to develop empathy. That is why sharing is so hard before this, and is not developmentally appropriate to force.
What magical experience did you have as a child? What whimsy have you maintained into your adult life?
References:
https://theconversation.com/why-its-ok-for-kids-to-believe-in-santa-128170
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_697103_en.html
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/ages-stages-how-children-use-magical-thinking/
https://www.simplypsychology.org/preoperational.html
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-lifespandevelopment/chapter/cognitive-development-2/
"Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
As parents and teachers, we are often told what we CAN'T do for discipline, but aren't told so much what we CAN do. That is why we put together this basic list of techniques to handle challenging behavior. We can use these in order to gently support children in developing self-regulation and self-control. Some of the 'tools' we discuss are redirection, offering choices, emotion coaching (The FLIP-it method), appropriate consequences, and making things fun! We end with talking about the most important and powerful part of guidance: the relationship. Children need to know that we are there for them and love them no matter what. There are obviously whole books, blogs, and seminars on this subject, so we could not cover everything. Let us know what your go-to is!
Resources:
FLIP-it
https://centerforresilientchildren.org/dcrc-shop/flip-it/
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
https://www.abebooks.com/Mrs-Piggle-Wiggle-Betty-MacDonald-Hilary-Knight/30651704558/bd?cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_Trade-_-product_id=COM9780590413862USED-_-keyword=&gclid=Cj0KCQjws4aKBhDPARIsAIWH0JW0QBYbdNiI_vVHOoTimNuUVNvIiLZMyAsydsmxV_eugdhgguq_AhgaAlMHEALw_wcB
SMALL BUSINESS SHOUT OUT:
Idle Hands Bread Company - Richmond, VA
https://www.idlehandsbreadcompany.com/
Music:
"Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Lucy leads our discussion this week in talking about different types and benefits of using real tools, the Zone of Proximal Development, the whole child, STEM, and even a little soapbox moment about circle time, haha! We had so much to say about this topic, so it ended up being a little longer than our normal episodes. Let us know your thoughts, and thank you for being a part of our community!
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