Social and Emotional

Infant and Toddler, Social and Emotional

Kindergarten Readiness/Early Learning – Minding P’s and Q’s

2013/01/19 admin Leave a comment

While working on writing posts for kindergarten readiness and early learning for each alphabet letter, p and q reminded me of the expression “minding your p’s and q’s.” This expression refers to minding your manners, and manners are an important part of social skills. Young children will begin spending time away from their parents, in groups such as day care, playschool, preschool and later kindergarten, and having learned and practiced these skills will help them be more independent.

Following is a simple, short song with some “magic words.” It piggy-backs on the tune Mulberry Bush.

Please, thank you, excuse me, sorry.
Please, thank you, excuse me, sorry.
Please, thank you, excuse me, sorry. These are magic words.

There are many picture books and stories that you can use as you read and talk with your child about manners. There are even several apps! Plus, you can make up stories to go with a moment when needed. For instance, if your child needs some reminders at the table about please and thank you, have a fork tell a spoon. Or, if a “sorry” is needed when a little one gets water all over the floor after a bath, have the towel tell you it is sorry for the mess and will help to clean up. The dirty clothes can say they are sorry for not getting into the laundry hamper.

Songs and stories are another way of sending the same message, and sometimes our words are more effective when attached to music or imagination. There are certainly other needed social skills such as being able to talk about feelings, self-regulation, sharing, negotiating and others. These and manners skills are not just important for interactions, but also for children’s self-confidence as they increasingly develop their independence. What are some other suggestions for p’s and q’s?

Social and Emotional

Kindergarten Readiness ABC`s – F is for Feelings and Faces

2013/01/08 admin Leave a comment

Did you know that helping your child learn about feelings and faces is very supportive for playdates, preschool, and kindergarten readiness? Interactions with family members and friends will involve feelings and emotions. Kids need to learn what their feelings are and the words to talk about them.

Learning the names of basic feelings is more than just matching. Kids often need adults to identify or label these feelings for them. For instance, we might need to say to a child “I see that you are sad. Are you feeling sad because your toy broke??” to help a little one understand how s/he feels. Or, “I notice a scowl on your face, kind of a stormy look. That tells me you might be feeling pretty angry. Is that what you are feeling?” Commenting on a child’s feelings, gives the child words that s/he does not yet know and helps make the connection between the words and the feelings. It’s easier for kids to talk about feelings when they know the words.

Some emotions to identify or label for kids might include: happy, sad, angry, scared, surprised, silly, disappointed and calm. Especially calm, so when we ask kids to calm down they know what calm is! Sometimes, when we talk about feelings, we say that we are feeling bad or good. Bad can also mean wrong and that can be confusing for children. They wonder if “bad” feelings like sad and angry are wrong. Using the words “comfortable”or “uncomfortable” feelings can avoid that confusion,.

Faces give clues about emotions but being able to tell what someone else is feeling from their facial expressions takes practice. For a play-of-the-day, here is an idea using food to make faces that show feelings. Or instead of food, making playdough faces is fun, but don’t eat them! Or making faces in the mirror. Or reading a story about feelings. What else can you and your child do for feelings and faces and fun?

Infant and Toddler, Social and Emotional

Kindergarten Readiness – Helping Children Regulate Emotions

2012/12/28 admin Leave a comment

Christmas and holidays have been wonderful and now that the excitement is wearing off and the routine is returning, logically shouldn’t kids be more settled and calmer instead of driving you crazy? While adults may be breathing a sigh of relief, kids do not yet have the same skills to control their emotions and this is something to support for both their kindergarten readiness and life-skills learning.

For kids, there has been a lot of stress this month. Some activities have been positive and fun, and some have been disruptive and difficult. Just think of the build-up to Christmas, the toys, visits with Santa, friends and family, lots of attention, different meals at odd hours, various bedtimes and possibly unfamiliar places to stay. This has all accumulated and kids are overexcited and overstimulated.

One way to release tension is through wild, loud activity but this isn’t the best solution. Instead, we need to help children find some acceptable ways to unwind. Here are some suggestions:

Some time at the playground or a community pool or gym can give your child an outlet for all that energy.

Switch on some fast music at home and you and your child can dance and dance. Gradually, slow down the pace and change to softer, quieter music.

If you have a big drum–and some earplugs–your child can beat out some of the tension.

Run some water in the tub or the kitchen sink and let your child measure, pour, and stir. Water is very calming and you will notice your child becoming more relaxed. When needed, there is no rule that limits bathtime to once a day.

Nature can also help kids reconnect to their quiet side. A long walk or hike in the park also reconnects them to nature.

General development and early learning includes self-regulating skills and strategies. Kids do not come with these already in place, we need to help them learn how to calm themselves and release tension in acceptable ways. Some form of inside or outside physical activity is very effective.

Besides being overexcited and overstimulated, kids may also be overtired. A solution for that is a nap. For grownups, too! Could you use one?