Social and Emotional

Sharing books helps kids with more than just language and reading. Stories are a powerful way to teach and learn about everything! This month we’ve been talking about relationships and some of the skills that children need to learn long before they go to school, such as sharing, coping in groups, being able to separate from parents and caregivers and more. Social and emotional growth and development are important for more than kindergarten readiness, and here are some books that target this area.

Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, by Melanie Watt, is great fun. His fears remind grownups how scary this can be for some kids. Brown Bear and Friends by Eric Carle doesn’t specifically talk about friends, but adults reading to kids can show how Brown Bear has Polar Bear and Panda Bear as his friends. When reading to kids ask them questions like why might they all be friends.  Are some things about them the same? Are some things different? Corduroy by Don Freeman finds a friend in Lisa. Franklin the turtle and Winnie the Pooh have special friends. There are many others that can be used for helping kids learn about relationships.
Where would any of us be without friends?

Has your child or one in your care ever asked to be called by a different name? Sometimes, kids as young as 2 will tell us “I Kitty” or use a friend’s name, although it is usually a little older ones that will ask to be called by different name. This is part of social and emotional growth as children figure out who they are and ‘try on’ some one else. Kids are exploring their own and others’ identities. It’s a very important part of development and play.

Today, during a few play moments, suggest that you are someone or something else. If you need a quiet moment, you could be a chair and have to stay in one place. Ask your child who s/he wants to be. If you are very lucky, your child might be the chair and just sit there. Or you could be the phone and your child has to talk on you. You might decide to be Elmo and talk in a high voice. (I confess that sometimes when I needed to reach something that had rolled under the bed that I turned my kids into the vacuum and, complete with sound effects, had them get it out.) Yes, this play is all part of kindergarten readiness as you help your child learn and develop socially and emotionally. Plus, it’s kind of fun! Who will you be?

February’s blog topic is all about social relationships. Most of the time, children are with familiar faces and that helps them feel comfortable. School will have lots of new, unfamiliar people and this can create stress for little ones. To help them cope, try a little practice in various different groups. For young toddlers, there may … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Helping Children Cope In Groups →

February is a great month for talking about social relationships. For kids of all ages, learning social skills is a big challenge and important for more than just kindergarten readiness. Like all skills, they take practice but playing and imagining make the task much more fun. Here’s a please and thank you game. Most toddlers understand that we … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Please & Thank You Game →