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Do you believe these behaviors can and should be addressed before the age of 3?
I do.
Do you believe we can successfully teach alternatives to these negative and harmful shortcuts through problem solving, learning and assertiveness?
Countless early childhood professionals and parents, myself included, do so every day.
So what's standing in the way for the rest of us? Violence, blame, bias and bullying seem to be a way of life for many. Are there alternatives to those behaviors that work?
Let's shift gears to what is possible. And let's ask one of my favorite questions, "What if...."
What if:
early childhood teachers, parents and leaders were given the respect they need and deserve?
systematic bias was explored and discussed openly instead of being conveniently swept under the rug of an easier and more comfortable existence.
What if:
early childhood educators got paid in accordance with the importance of the work they do?
full time parents were completely respected and working parents were able to relax knowing that quality care and education for their children is within their reach.
early childhood educators had the opportunity to teach problem solving and assertiveness instead of operating at the level of constantly putting out fires, along with all of the other work they’re required to do daily.
What if:
parents, teachers and early childhood leaders got together to demand a coffee and soda tax to fund high quality birth-3.
the government matched that amount of money in funding and then some.
Here's a little story you can use with young children to help teach a problem-solving attitude. I think about the way the brain makes use of repetition to enforce it's wiring and I tell the same story many, many times, especially by request.
For this one, all that you needed is an apple, a paring knife and a group of hungry children. Here's the link.
At the end of my version, the child brings a dozen apples home and they make an apple pie
leaving the door open an enrichment activity or two.
I always tell this story by heart instead of reading it so I can make eye contact with each child. It really makes a difference.
That’s because connections are the only thing that really matter in early childhood.
Emotions really do spark learning. (more about that next week)
But for now, emotions matter and that the hand the rocks the cradles, rocks the world!
Are you ready to join us in support of that? If you are, click here and get my 22 page slideshow on How To Get Kids To Listen Without Yelling Or Time-Outs. When you join you get the entire slideshow for free (9.99 retail value.)
The slideshow is the linguistically boiled down version of 45+ years of teaching and 2 higher level degrees worth of expertise. . Some parents whose children are now grown have told me that the info on these pages is worth a million dollars!
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Nanci
Nanci J Bradley is an early childhood and family educator, author, teacher, family aerobics instructor, and an all-around fun-loving person. She believes in the power of sleep, healthy eating, lifelong learning, and most of all, PLAY! She studied early childhood ed at Triton College and received her BS in education in 1986 from NIU. She received her MA in human dev from Pacific Oaks College in 2011. She lives and teaches in Madison WI and is the founder of early childhood rocks, a non-profit org dedicated to creating change through early childhood education.
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