A Word from Our Director
Community Goal: Spring Has Sprung!
Springtime is here!!! New friendships are forming. The children’s bodies are gaining strength and momentum. They are forming an awareness of the world outside of themselves; becoming aware of how they are perceived by others. They stretch their newly discovered muscles as they hang upside down on the dome, and jump off the highest stump. They are also stretching their independence and verbal skills. These developmental leaps can manifest themselves in behaviors that can seem downright obnoxious to adults. We all learn through trial and error. With our warmth, patience, trust, and joyful laughter we can help them smooth their rougher edges. Occasionally, workday members can feel threatened by children demonstrating less than perfect social behavior.
Here are some tips to help you while you are on your work day:
Scenario 1: A pack of kids have run into your previously calm area, upsetting the children who were already peacefully playing.
Solution:
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Check yourself. If you feel angry, realize that the children are doing what they need to do. They are not trying to threaten you. They really don’t want to hurt anybody else. Their behavior might be triggering some feelings from your childhood, when you felt powerless. You’re not powerless in this situation.
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Stop any reckless or hurtful behavior with firm but compassionate limits. “Hang on friends, let’s check in.”
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Get close. Get low. Point out the game that is happening in that area. “I can’t let you knock over the blocks right now, they are building a house.”
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Invite the children to join in. “Could you go get us some more blocks?” or show them where they can play. “No one is on Bike Deck, try your game there.”
Problem: Exclusionary play. This actually happened last week: 3 kids were playing in the tree house, sweeping and pushing sand with shovels. A few minutes later they were very upset and blocking the door. Two other children were trying to push their way in. “Hmm? What’s happening?”
“They won’t let us play.”
“Well they are trying to get us.”
“What’s the game?”
“We’re sweeping to get our house ready.”
“Well, we are playing Rescue Bots.”
“Do you want to play those games together.”
“NO!”
“Well, the house game started first, so they get the tree house.”
“Let’s go! Right bots? Right!”
One of the three of our new children stayed.
“Do you want to play family?”
“Yes.”
“Hey, M wants to play with you. What does she need to do?”
“She can play but she needs a shovel. A big shovel.”
We go get a big yellow shovel and the game starts again.
Solution: Exclusionary play can really re-stimulate our old feelings of rejection and isolation. It is very difficult for grown-ups to see their child either be excluded or exclude other children. Some children might remind us of our siblings or children from our childhood and their manner might bring back feelings of isolation or rejection.
If you see exclusionary play ask the excluded child what they want. Don’t assume that you know what the child wants. Ask them first. If they want to join a game with some older children or more seemingly powerful children. Ask those children what the child needs to do to join in. We do not allow children to exclude others based on gender or appearance or any outwardly attributes that the children cannot control.
Problem: It’s your work day and you’ve noticed the same child having off-track behaviors over and over again.
Solution: Check in with the nearest teacher. Tell her what you’ve seen. Children demonstrating repeated off track behavior aren’t bad or purposely trying to upset you. But they are signaling for help. Ask the teacher for suggestions to help this child.
So Much is Happening!
Your wonderful staff is super busy this month. Here are a few things that are coming up!
April 16 - Bike & Roll Day
April 22 - 9:15 & 1:15 & April 23 7:30 - Philosophy #4 Meeting
Week of April 29th
April 29th - Occupational Therapist Julia Harris Talk
TBD - Recording teacher books
TBD - Group Yearbook Photos
Maria will be taking her Spring Break April 10-16 and Molly will be taking hers April 23-29.
Let’s take a moment to think about that special staff member that has been working her tuchus off enrolling new families (and answering all the wonderful questions from anxious new families), managing everyone’s summer schedules (and answering all the questions of busy anxious new and returning families), and making sure the school runs smoothly:
(Sing this to the Tune of the Candy Man)
Molly Boyll Can!
Who can take a 1000 schedules (who can take a 1000 schedules)
Sprinkle them with dew (sprinkle them with dew)
Cover them with laughter and a miracle or two
Molly Boyll can (Molly Boyll can)
Oh, Molly Boyll can (Molly Boyll can)
Molly Boyll can
'Cause she mixes it with love
And makes the world make sense (makes the world make sense)
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