It's not the first time it's happened. My five year old came home and told me that one of his good friends told him (once again) that he couldn't play with the group of kids that he always plays with. He was left with no friends. My heart broke. His didn't look broken, but was fairly matter of fact. It appears I was more worried about it than my son. I immediately went into justice mode. How dare they say that to my wee boy?! What else did they say? How did they say it?!
After a while, I pulled my head in and changed to objective questioning (not the tell me about the bully type). I then discovered that perhaps my son was lacking in certain skills to maintain friendships. It turned out that he was determined to play a particular game and the others were over that game and therefore (in five year old fashion), they were over him. I can understand it, I get over his games and determination to play them too!
So we're going to be looking at teaching him strategies to be a good friend- sharing of not just toys but ideas. Give and Take sort of stuff. It's great that he has leadership qualities (read bossy) but not so great if he doesn't let others decide the games.
Chelsea has had an interesting week at preschool. She fears a boy who said a couple of nasty comments to her. Boy did she crumble! I am surprised that she's so soft and squishy inside, and relieved that I do not need to let her into the big wide world of school just yet.
She did NOT want to go to preschool. She cried, she sobbed, she clung to me and I felt absolutely awful. I told myself that I would make her go so that she could get back on the bike again so to speak. Really I forced her as I had to be at work. My poor wee girl.
So we talked about it. I explained that the teachers would help and love her, and I explained that the wee boy was just learning too. Then we talked about not wanting to be places, but having to find 'fun' in them anyway. I said we'd make a fun book together when we got home.
When I picked her up she declared proudly, "I found fun!" and she said she had found it in the sandpit, and in afternoon tea, and various other places. I was immensely proud of her, and the fact that she faced her fears with bravery. I know it's going to be hard again next week but I'm comforted that she's going to learn how perservere when things get tough. Heck, I'm not even sure that I've learned how to do that yet!
I think that our kids are remarkably resilient, and strongly able to learn how to cope with emotional pain. It's natural to want to carry their worries for them, but we forget how capable they can be. I hope my kids develop strong, empathetic characters. I wonder how much of that will come naturally and how much I'll have to consciously guide and scaffold. Teaching them to read and write is so much more black and white!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Preschoolers and Art
When I did my 4 year degree in Education (ECE) it was drummed in to us that to foster childrens creativity, you were never to draw for them or give them colouring in pictures etc as this would stifle their creative freedom. I never really quite agreed with all of this, but who was I to question it. In fact, a peer got slandered on her practicum by a lecturer because she had drawn a face for a child.
I guess we all learn in different ways but as a youngster I firmly remember watching older kids draw at school and copying their ways of drawing and representing images. I remember loving the old 'Lettering Book' and being inspired by different fonts. Not necessarily copying them but it gave me new tools and ways to draw. Since my degree, thinking has changed but I'll always hold a slightly bitter outlook on certain things that I was brainwashed to believe.
Today my five year old Dominik was adding to his invention collection. He wanted to add a slide to his Grandy's bach (holiday home). It was to go down to the water and was to be a 'tube' as he put it. He questioned me how to draw such a shape. I turned my back on my degree, and showed him how you can draw a cylinder. He was thrilled, and confidently went to draw his slide. I think I will show him how to draw other 3d shapes, it might help him represent some of his ideas better.
We also used a book, a lift the flap one called 'See inside how things work' - it's amazing, and both kids love it. It even had a waterslide pump illustration in it, so this helped Dom understand his new design so much better. You can buy the book from book depository ....free international postage, the most tempting site I know!
So often I disagree with things I have been told. Ironically, teachers college taught and strongly emphasized critical thought, but it was only about ourselves, and our shortcomings, not about what was being taught to us. I guess putting on my parent hat, it would appear obvious to show a child how to draw something if they asked. Sometimes the gut intuition of a parent is way more logical than the learnings of an educated 'teacher.'
I guess we all learn in different ways but as a youngster I firmly remember watching older kids draw at school and copying their ways of drawing and representing images. I remember loving the old 'Lettering Book' and being inspired by different fonts. Not necessarily copying them but it gave me new tools and ways to draw. Since my degree, thinking has changed but I'll always hold a slightly bitter outlook on certain things that I was brainwashed to believe.
Today my five year old Dominik was adding to his invention collection. He wanted to add a slide to his Grandy's bach (holiday home). It was to go down to the water and was to be a 'tube' as he put it. He questioned me how to draw such a shape. I turned my back on my degree, and showed him how you can draw a cylinder. He was thrilled, and confidently went to draw his slide. I think I will show him how to draw other 3d shapes, it might help him represent some of his ideas better.
We also used a book, a lift the flap one called 'See inside how things work' - it's amazing, and both kids love it. It even had a waterslide pump illustration in it, so this helped Dom understand his new design so much better. You can buy the book from book depository ....free international postage, the most tempting site I know!
So often I disagree with things I have been told. Ironically, teachers college taught and strongly emphasized critical thought, but it was only about ourselves, and our shortcomings, not about what was being taught to us. I guess putting on my parent hat, it would appear obvious to show a child how to draw something if they asked. Sometimes the gut intuition of a parent is way more logical than the learnings of an educated 'teacher.'
Early Childhood Language
So I've been teaching since 1999. That makes me feel rather old! In all that time I have encountered many children with cute lisps and speech impediments. None of which have worried the SLT's and have not worried us as educators too much.
Chelsea has the typical r=w sound "wabbit" and so on. It is a sound which reminds me she is still little, and sounds so cute to the ear. The thing I need to make sure though, is that the sounds in her head are correct. She and I had an argument the other day about which letter Road begins with. She was sure it was a W. This could prove problematic at school when she is writing, so I am going to start giving her that correct letter sound information now. Even if she can't pronounce it (although I'm not convinced that she can't, I suspect it's a bit of a habit), I will informally teach her what letters words begin with. She loves words and letters so this will be easy!
I love this chart which explains the normal realms of when children learn how to speak different sounds
http://www.minedu.govt.nz/~/media/MinEdu/Files/EducationSectors/SpecialEducation/PublicationsResources/WhenSpeechSoundsAreLearned.doc
Welcome to my world
So I'm about to hop on this blogging bandwagon. Inspired by many great bloggers, and embracing an old childhood passion - writing. I don't care if anyone reads this but I want to find solace in words like I once did as a child. I used to spend hours on my own with my written language book, creating rambling stories. Possibly quite terrible ones, but entertaining to myself.
A little bit of egocentricity... I have many roles in my own world. Firstly I'm a wife, not the best by any stretch but I try! I am also an Early Childhood Teacher, albeit part time these days. Lastly, but probably most importantly I am a Mama. I have an energetic, loving five year old boy Dominik, and a sparkly tenacious three year old girl Chelsea. Actually she's three and three quarters. The latter being very important to her.
We live in suburbia in Auckland, New Zealand and try to make life as fun and simple as possible.
2011 is going to bring many things to our small family. Firstly we are setting out to reduce clutter. Our modest house is full of paraphernalia and we are out to reduce and recycle it. I have decided that for future presents we will buy only small useful things. I am over the big plastic fantastic toys that take up much of our small living space. Secondly, we are going to try and be healthier. The kids are super healthy, but us as parents we indulge in a few too many treats and not enough exercise. We get away with it due to our fast metabolisms but inside I'm sure things don't look too good.
A little bit of egocentricity... I have many roles in my own world. Firstly I'm a wife, not the best by any stretch but I try! I am also an Early Childhood Teacher, albeit part time these days. Lastly, but probably most importantly I am a Mama. I have an energetic, loving five year old boy Dominik, and a sparkly tenacious three year old girl Chelsea. Actually she's three and three quarters. The latter being very important to her.
We live in suburbia in Auckland, New Zealand and try to make life as fun and simple as possible.
2011 is going to bring many things to our small family. Firstly we are setting out to reduce clutter. Our modest house is full of paraphernalia and we are out to reduce and recycle it. I have decided that for future presents we will buy only small useful things. I am over the big plastic fantastic toys that take up much of our small living space. Secondly, we are going to try and be healthier. The kids are super healthy, but us as parents we indulge in a few too many treats and not enough exercise. We get away with it due to our fast metabolisms but inside I'm sure things don't look too good.
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