Hello all,
I am reading Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs by Ellen Galinsky. I have a very challenging group this year both in the AM and PM sessions, and right now I am devoting time to the first skill - Focus and Self Control. There are so many things in our world that compete for our attention, and that can be especially true for a preschool child in a classroom with 20 three and four year old children. Self control can be huge hurdle for little ones. So to begin intentionally teaching focus and self control I have introduced the game - Red Light Green Light. It is a simple game but requires the children to pay attention, remember the rules, and inhibit their initial response (which would be to continue with the fun action rather than stop on red). I use visuals for the game and the children so far in both classes enjoy the challenges presented to them.
I also came across a blog where a kindergarten teacher used blowing bubbles to teach self control. I have used bubbles to teach 'gentle touches' in the past, and it helped children to understand how to be gentle towards others. I decided to try the self control bubble lesson. The first time I blew the bubbles I allowed the children to pop the bubbles. They were giggling and squealing and had a great time. I told them that I could see how much they loved popping bubbles. The second time I instructed the children that they were not allowed to pop the bubbles, even if they wanted to really badly. I told them it would be very hard, but they had to keep their hands down. I blew the bubbles a second time and it WAS REALLY HARD for them. We have done this activity twice now and the second time was much better for most of the children.
I don't know if any of you are familiar with Walter Mischel's Marshmallow Test done many years ago at Columbia University. Children were offered a marshmallow to eat right away, or if they waited they could have two marshmallows later. Some children could wait, and some of course could not. They followed up with those children as adults and the children that could wait had higher test scores, they had graduated high school and attended college, and were successful in many areas of their lives. Dr. James Heckman refers to these skills as 'soft skills' and they are just as important to develop as the cognitive skills. I am very focused on being more intentional in our preschool classroom to work with children to develop their 'soft skills'. When I think back to when I taught kindergarten I was thrilled to have a child that could sit still, listen and follow directions! I know there are many more expectations of children now but I feel strongly about investing more time getting them ready to learn in the preschool classroom.
That's so interesting about the children who could wait moving on to be more successful. I wonder if our quick response to reward children is actually stifling their ability to be even more successful. I think the philosophy is the more they please, the more they'll want to please but I wonder if we tapered and tempered that praise, if our children would become more successful in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI have conflicting ideas about rewards. Of course I want children to be intrinsically motivated, but some children are not - especially the younger they are. Using extrinsic rewards teaches them, and eventually the idea is they will internalize these desired behaviors and skills. The idea is to start of course with very concrete rewards (like something edible) then stickers, and then scented lipbalm that I say is an 'invisible sticker' that I rub on the back of their hand. I try to wean them from the rewards like this but for some they will always need an extrinsic motivator. I also think RELATIONSHIPS matter. I love Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - and in the middle of the pyramid is the need to feel love and belonging. Most children will want to do well (even if it is difficult for them). I can see that a bit now with one child. His responses to redirection have always been to scream out, hit and kick, or run away from the adults. Now every once in awhile I'll get an 'I sowry' which is progress. I believe connecting emotionally holds a lot of power, and of course, is just the right way to do it. Our principal at Cedar always had this tagline in her email...We must reach the heart before we teach the mind. It is a good reminder and keeps me hopeful that time will help with all my little ones!
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