Quiet Areas in Preschool Environments in Early Childhood Education

“Never miss an opportunity to make 

others happy, even if you have to leave 

them alone in order to do it.”

~Anonymous

I am not the sunshine in everyone’s life….Shocker, right?
There is an art to leaving kids alone to recover their dignity from humiliation, anger, fear, resentment….and such like. And WOE unto you if you mess-ith with them.
I mean yikes to the power of yikes.

Well…..a temper is another separate issue.
When I was upset, I preferred not to be alone-I was just that type of child. I preferred someone to pick on….at the very least……
I knew a little boy named Sean that used too hide under the table when there was trouble. There was a rule at the preschool that no one was to be under the table. He would quietly duck under and “gather” himself together…I could almost see it happening. The teachers would begin to pull him out until I brought the situation to their attention. The solution was to have one “Quiet Tent” in the classroom that kids could all sit under. It was enough for him and he used it less and less.
Hmmmm….Do we have a restful retreat for our kids their environment?
How do I take time to 'recover' from situations?

The Honorable Mention: What It's Like Being a Preschool Teacher in Early Childhood Education

 “People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child -- our own two eyes. All is a miracle.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh

Sometimes we as adults get childhood amnesia. I believe it's curable. The remedy may be making mud pies outside, or lying in the soft grass looking up at the clouds to see how many images you can find…..
If you love being around children, however, you must appreciate their inborn sense of wonder. They won’t let you for get the miracles around you each day. I like to document some of their interesting questions & remarks from over the years as an early childhood educator.
I just thought I would share the miracles they see….

“Is the Earth hanging in God’s closet….a-cause I don’t see the hanger!” (Three-year-old looking at a picture of the earth taken from the space shuttle)

“I see trees movin’, grass movin’, and my hairs is a-movin’. But what’s movin’ the movin’?” (Three-year-old marveling on a very windy day)

“Hey! Somebody took my seed and put a bigger one in its place!” (Four-year-old amazed by the growth of the bean he planted)

“Up in the sky! I see a cow…no, never mind, it’s a cat…now it’s a car…now it’s a rabbit, now it looks like my little brother! That’s weird!” (A five-year-old looking at the clouds on a windy day)

“If God is bowling right now He must have got a strike right there.” (A four-year-old whispered to another while listening to a thunderstorm)

The Seven Commitments

Do my actions inspire my students to be kinder, gentler, and more caring?
~Dan Gurney (Mr. Kindergarten)
http://misterkindergarten.blogspot.com/

I have often posted about culture we create in our classrooms. Our culture comes from what we value. When the culture is strong, your classroom is more apt too respond to change as it comes.
Good attitudes, trust and respect do not come naturally. Teachers wear many hats through out the day. Coaching and teamwork is one of them.
Coaching takes time to develop people skills, creating a sense of community, a commitment to team efforts and the individual as a whole for the grater good.
I am not saying we as teaches don’t work to develop these skills, but so often many of us get lost in a supervisory role and it gets neglected.
With anything, we must be careful what we culture we create. Next thing we know, we may have started a movement that has taken on a life of its own.
In the revolutionary book, “Who Said So?” by Michael E. Parker, Entrepreneur and CEO wrote The Seven Commitments.In order to implement them as a teacher, we must first start with ourselves…
The Seven Commitments
1.Attitude Control: Commit to control attitude and behavior.
2.Identify and strengthen individual weaknesses: Commit to continually identify and strengthen individual weaknesses, including: aggressive attitude, ineffective communication, inferiority complex, low self esteem, and desire for power.
3.Positive thought process: commit to maintaining a positive attitude even I difficult circumstances.
4.Effective communication: Commit to sending effective messages and listening actively.
5.High tolerance level: Commit too exercising extreme patience in challenging circumstances.
6.Resilience: Commit to recovery quickly and bouncing back from disappointments and frustrations.
7.Respect for authority: Commit to respecting teachers, children, and families.

Talking about the commitments to kids by not only demonstrating it, but by regular group discussions,“What would you do if” scenarios,and one on one discussions (not only when they are in trouble) has proven to be very positive in instilling the culture I wish to create. What other ways do you instill The Seven Commitments?

Keep Trying

“It's frustrating when you know all the answers,

but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.”

“Ms.Barbra?”
“Yes?”
“Guess what I am thinking about?”
“Um…nuclear radiation in outer space?”
“No! No! No! You never guess-ed…and I know the answer!”
“Sorry, Kevin….but you still have to take a nap.”
“Okay….I’ll try again with you-s when I waked up.”
“Thank you for your patience with me, Kevin.”
“You’re welcome, Ms. Barbra.”

Total Recall

 “Now that it's all over, what did you really 

do yesterday that's worth mentioning?”

~Coleman Cox

I often do what is called “Recall Circle” with the children. It is a time of reflecting on work the children did before we gathered. They often say with whom or where they played…what they did, how they did it…as the year goes on their language gets more intricate and detailed. I love to take dictation during this time.
“What about you, Ms. Barbra? Tell us what you did!” The children questioned me. As I looked at their happy hushed, smiling faces I told them where I worked and who needed me. After we’re done we all clap for each other.
Every now and then I take a tally of my day…and imagine their sweet little faces asking me that question.
If I can’t think of anything, I definitely find something worth clapping about.

2010

“Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.”
~Bill Vaughn

Well, it’s here. 2010. I thought we would be living on the moon or something. I was visiting friends…sorry to say, I fell asleep. I’m not as fresh as I used to be-okay. I noticed was I was going home with my husband…the little kids were still in full swing….ah, youth. The running, vacuuming up stray cookies, chewing with their little screaming mouths open…
I suppose everyone was wondering how I fell asleep.
Someone said, “LUCK?”
I smiled and said, “Preschool teachers are on the frontlines all the time….but not tonight.”
I try to think further than where I am...not just in year segments.
I find rest in that....

Caution: May Contain Nuts

“Above all else: go out with a sense of humor. It is needed armor. Joy in one's heart and some laughter on one's lips is a sign that the person down deep has a pretty good grasp of life.”
~Hugh Sidey

I cried a lot when I was I kid. I cried so much I used to give myself a time limit and then simply decide to be cheerful after that……why did I cry…funny you should ask…I don’t much remember now- once I decided to be cheerful it didn’t much matter after that. Sunshine always seems to chase away the rain.
I was just a really emotional kid…quite, silent. I must have had a noisy silence about me because everyone seemed to notice me no matter how quiet I tried to be. You probably have seen these kids…
I really love to laugh. I suppose that is why I love being around children….
Perhaps that’s why humor works so well on people…
One little girl asked me, “Ms Barbra?”
“Yes?”
“You’re not THAT crazy, huh?”
“No. Not last time I checked.”

The Honorable Mention: Another Nation

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday."
~ Don Marquis

It’s so easy to put things off when you’re working with kids. It’s even easier doing things yourself rather than having kids do it. I’m talking about ‘Clean Up Time’.
Even coming back from winter breaks or vacations….kids get ‘Clean Up Time Amnesia’. Comes with the territory, people- I stopped getting upset and frustrated long ago….I simply removed many of the materials in their environment that had lots of little parts…removed lots of 'clutter' they were normally good about cleaning up. Put in some new fresh play dough, moved around some furniture…you know, till we eased back into our routine.
I often think of an old Chinese Proverb when I feel like throwing in the proverbial towel, "He who stands still in life walks backwards". I got that out of a fortune cookie when I was ten...I remember it to this day.
As For Don Marquis, he has a good point. Any form of 'art' is in the eye of the beholder...some art is messy, confused and muddled. People that come from the nation of ‘Procrastination’(I suppose we all have at one time or another).....well, let's just say, we can choose to live someplace else.

*Thanks to my friend Andrea Wright for this quote.

T-A-N-K-S!

“A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they're not so bad.”
~Arnold H. Glasgow

During class time I noticed Marko holding a book and walking around with it- making children laugh…..hmmm-m? Not so unusual. Since I was with another child- I would check on him in a minute. Before I could get to him a child entered to room crying with his mother. Off I went to assist and I saw Marko coming out of the corner of my eye- this time he had a whole group of children behind him.
“Tell him, Marko..tell him the joke!” The children coaxed.
Marko handed the book to the crying boy who stopped for a moment to look at it.
“Excuse me, my dear man…take this book.” Marko said in some kind of fake deep English accent.
Curious by now, he stopped crying and took the book.
“We’ll, what does it say, my dear man?”
“Um,” he sniffed; he read the bold word on the front cover. T-A-N-K-S, “it says, tanks.” He whispered.
“Say that a little louder, dear man.” Marko smiled, puffing his chest out.
“Tanks.” He said rubbing his eyes.
“Can’t heaaaar yoooou.” Marko giggled with the rest of the children.
“TANKS!” He shouted and laughed.
“Well, you’re welcome-but you don’t have to yell!”

A Beautiful Discovery

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart."
~Elisabeth Foley

How often do we encourage friendships in our kids? Sure, it's really easy to separate everyone during an argument or a fight...or go in different corners...that is, till the next round.
But what about talking it out...I mean, finding out what kids are really about?
Maybe, just maybe...if it starts with us.....it may occur to start with them.

The Crayola Bomb

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination."
~Robert Fulghum

Thought for the Day- What do you wish to inspire today?

"One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested."
~ E. M. Forster

I had a color mixing given to me to do with the children. It called for lots of teacher direction...not my style...ahem. I revised it. The children did it on their own- mixing fabulous colors in ice cube trays with eyes droppers,small brushes and cups. They loved it...
"Let's do it again!"
I asked them how we could continue it. They decided to continue it outside, in the water table in the ice cube trays.
They learned so much more on their own and from one another.
The sense of community it created, the friendships....not to mention the 'colors' that came out in their own personalities.

A Fragile Piece of Blu

“No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement.”
~Florida Scott-Maxwell

I had met some of the parents during pick up time after school. I make sure to give them charming anecdotes about their kids…then…I noticed something strange about ‘Stacy’s’ dad, Corbin. He would reach into his wallet at times…sniff something…and go about his merry way. E-GADS! Drugs? Goodness-gravy…how could I be sure? I mean the man was always neat as a pin and never showed any sign of anything. I went to my director and asked her how to go about the situation.
My director was on good terms with the family…the dad actually went to the school when he was a boy. The next day I was summoned in the director’s office with the dad, my director, and Nana…Corbin’s mother. Everyone was smiling and laughing.
I sat down beside Corbin.
“Oh! So glad you’re here Ms. Barbra, Corbin has something to show you-hee-hee” Giggled my director.
“Yes, what’s left of it…” Nana laughed, slapping her knee.
Out of his wallet, Corbin pulled out a small square of robin’s egg blue fabric. It was badly tattered around the edges…it looked like a portion of a child’s blanket.
I looked…squinted at it, and looked at everyone….(was this a joke?)
Nana socked Corbin in the arm. “Well, tell her its name…you’re a grown man, and this is a fine mess you’ve gotten us in-You’re lucky she didn’t call the cops on ya!”
Corbin blushed, “Uh…yeah…Ms Barbra, this is, ‘BLU’.”
“Excuse me?”
“Blu…what’s left of my old blanket I had as a kid…”
Nana interrupted, “He never could let go of the darn thing-had it since he was three! Didn’t even want me to wash it way back then …AND this is where it has led us. He likes to give it a sniff every now and then…”
“Ma!” Corbin said putting his hand to his forehead.
I bit my lip……..HARD.
“Nana taught here at this school, you know.” My director whispered to me as their conversation continued.
“…Oh anyway, love you, Corbie… I’m glad you don’t take the drugs.”
“I love you, too, Ma…and it’s, ‘DO’ drugs, Ma.”
“…Huh? Well how would a nice boy like you know that?!”

Bawl on a String

“When someone asked Abe Lincoln, after he had been elected president, what he was going to do about all his enemies, he replied,
“I am going to destroy them. I am going to make them my friends.”

There was a ‘pincher’ in a class near mine. He targeted a ‘screamer’. It got to the point where the ‘pincher’ merely laid a finger on the ‘screamer’ and fabulous ballet of nurses and faculty would come running from everywhere to see what “hatchet murder” was taking place. Well, the powers that be decided that these two children move up together in my class. I worked closely with the parents, faculty, and spoke regularly to both the children. There would be no added attention to the situation till I got to the bottom of what was REALLY going on.
It turns out…if you hadn’t guessed already, these two had socialization issues. They were naturally drawn to each other but, didn’t know how to engage socially other than…well, pinching and screaming…and yes, they were annoying each other…and everyone else in their, “getting-to-know-you-phase”. Thankfully, we had a floater I could use that would shadowed the boys through their friendship process. They cried regularly, were offended on a whim, and need lots of teacher guidance when problem solving.
It all took time… but the boys eventually understood how to be friends with each other and with others.
I don’t believe I have ever seen a child look at another as ‘an enemy’. Little kids will argue or even fight…but ten seconds later they are playing together….happily. As a parent or teacher we can use that-there are teachable moments for children when they are receptive….teachable moments for us ‘big people’,too…if we are REALLY paying attention.

What's Great About Barbra & Intello-Kids

First off Barbra is hilarious. Her ability to transfer practical knowledge to educators with delightful stories always keeps me laughing. She is very real about what she shares and can convey messages that always reach my heart and I am sure her faithful followers will agree.

Barb, thanks so much for all you do and give in writing this blog. Its amazing the effort you give out and the dedication you bring in helping us all to learn how to better educate the future people who will carry on life as we may or may not know it on Earth. LOl

Analysis Paralysis

Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly intelligent and well-informed just to be undecided about them.
~ Laurence J. Peter

What to do…what to do…everyday is a new day with a shining new beginning. Bright smiling little faces may be looking at you for fun, excitement, learning and you’ve got……nothing. I am speaking of myself, of course. Some days I will admit, I feel like everything I have done with the children had gone wrong-or that I have simply sputtered out like a firecracker. In actuality, it couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s just a bad case of analysis paralysis. It’s very catchy…so be careful. Unlike the common cold or virus it only spreads when you over think or analyze-pouring... over a situation or subject far too long. When I first began teaching my first case of AP came with my preschool curriculum. Then I realized all the curriculum I will ever need comes from the children themselves….To this day, I have never run out of curriculum that has been engaging and exciting for both the families and the children. What we see in this life depends a lot on what we are mainly looking for. My friend, Morgane is an artist…she sees art everywhere, even in a hardware store. I have never known her to limit herself to canvas and paint. What I love about her and children is that everything about their creative mind says, “GO!”. So if you ever feel a case of AP coming on, you might need to get creative.

Be a Well of Affection...

"The hardest of all is learning to be a well of affection, and not a fountain, to show them that we love them, not when we feel like it, but when they do."
~ Nan Fairbrother

Do I have a personal closet for my own hangups and attitudes? Can someone that doesn't even know me look at my face and know I am having a bad day?
If they do then kids surely do.
I would like to start each day fresh and polished....They deserve the best in me, so does everyone.....so do I.

Primary Caregiving

It takes a village to raise a child.
-African Proverb

I know it’s out there. I learned about the effects of primary care giving on young children. Marked differences in receptiveness in learning, socialization and self control in preschool aged children can carry over into Kindergarten and yet….it is not always enforced. At a few centers and preschool I went to many directors and teachers didn’t even know what primary care giving was. It there some new word for it now? Or…am I just, O-L-D? Well, If this is the case, allow me to tell you what worked a long time ago.

Primary Caregivers were usually assigned children at the beginning of the year (if they worked in teams). As the children began to bond with the teachers and vise versa, the children were reassigned in “groups”. As a primary the teacher made a special effort to get to know the group. These are some of the situations or activities that may be directed to her for the special attention.

*emotional/physical availability
*conflict resolution
*avocation/ parent conferencing
*diapering/toileting
*noticing & understanding the child & children
*caring for the child to grow as a positive & well rounded individual

If the teacher works in a team with others, it is of course, everyone’s responsibility to care for, manage, motivate and encourage all the children. We care for all of them- as primary caregivers it takes lots of communication and teamwork. These skills develop over time. I have found that there is much more attention given to the children and the parents as a result. As a primary care giver one has to have to ability to work within a team. This takes cooperation, patience, and a positive attitude- and that is what we are teaching our children anyway… I really hope I see more primary caregiving out there!

Art and Creativity

"Nothing grows well without space and air."
~Patricia Monaghan

Regarding the creative process, art that is truly art happens instantly. If children are waiting for you to cut, punch out, stamp, staple or draw something…chances are it’s not art. Sometimes there is a specific project or craft you have in mind-and the children have another idea. Crafts limit the creative process because mistakes are so visible and upsetting to children. Art…true art, allows the child to simply create and enjoy the process while socializing, using their senses, telling a story, or even while working through emotions.....sounds a little Andy Warholish- but,it's about the kids.

Preschool Talk

"The day soldiers stop bring you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them."
— General Colin Powell

"One learns peoples through the heart, not the eyes or the intellect."
— Mark Twain

"The less people know, the more they yell."
— Seth Godin

Definition: Communication

A two way process of sending and receiving messages: the way one chooses to express themselves.

Definition: Effective Communication

The two way process of successfully expressing ones true thoughts and feelings to the appropriate person/people, in the appropriate time environment(s), at the appropriate time(s).

Infants, toddlers and preschool aged children learn by example. They also learn how to behave within certain environments if adults inforce standards. It has been recorded that the average adult spends 3 minutes in actual "meaningful" conversation with our children daily. How often do we as preschool teachers, parents or family caregivers spend time engaging preschoolers in conversation about themselves? Do we provide opportunities for conversation in a group as well as one on one? Often times if we are not planning it within our preschool curriculum- it might not be happening.
Here are some things to think about:

Circle times: This is an opportunity for communication with the children as a group. Although it is primarily a teacher directed activity, you can make it co-active for the children by allowing them to freely speak and contribute to the circle time. You as a teacher model listening, effective communication techniques, manners, etc. Children learn by example.

Snacks and Mealtimes: "Family style" mealtimes means children assist in setting the table, serving, clean up etc. So often we as preschool teachers find it easier to do it all ourselves. But in reality, it's the opposite. Preschoolers get so much more out to the experience of learning to do it themselves and it makes for a language rich mealtime. Did you know that many of the skills they acquire "doing it themselves" are preparing them for Kindergarten?

Playtime: "What did you do today?" or "Tell me a story about your picture?" are great open-ended questions to ask preschoolers once they are engaged in playtime. It works best if you strategically position yourself in a good spot to view all the children and engage the one in conversation. Depending on the environment you work in, you will know the best time to do this. At one particular daycare I had worked at, a child loved to for her and I to share stories about when "we were little". I shared stories about when I was 5, and she shared stories about when she was 4.


"Be amusing: never tell unkind stories; above all, never tell long ones."
— Benjamin Disraeli