Key Experiences:  Promoting Children's Development

As early childhood educators, we know the importance of providing an environment where young children can explore and discover!  This environment includes carefully chosen materials, activities and interactions that promote children's intellectual, social, emotional and physical development.

An essential part of key experiences are Parents.  As the child's first and most important teacher, parents support the child's ongoing growth and development.   One method to help parents understand the role of Key Experiences is through a Play Workshop.  A play workshop, first and foremost, brings parents back to the experience of play-the sometimes joyful, soothing, challenging experience that does not necessarily rely on a "right" or "wrong" outcome. 

Steps to implement a Play Workshop. . .

• Recognize that play is at the heart of early childhood education.  Play informs children's development in all areas:  Social competence, Literacy, Reading, Art, Math and Science;
• Provide several kinds of edible  playdough and straws; allow parents the chance to get their hands dirty!
• After providing ample time for parents to play, hand out a list of key experiences (High Scope) children have when using open-ended materials;
• In small groups, Parents can talk with their peers while identifying key experiences;
• Following discussion, each small group can share their findings with the large group.

This experience is amazing to witness--many "a-ha" moments and light bulbs will go off as parents gain a hands on experience that puts them firmly in their child's shoes.  The value of play is self-evident when re-experienced by adults. 

Through play, we can support parents in becoming advocates BOTH for their children and for the value of key experiences.

As I finished a lecture on Guidance last week in my Foundations of Child Development class, I closed by telling the students that if they were to walk away that night impacted by only one thing, my wish was that it would be their attitude towards working with children.  Attitude is defined as a “mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways.”  Teachers’ attitudes SHAPE their classroom.  Specifically, if we believe that each child and family is valuable and good; if we believe that every child is in the process of learning appropriate behaviors; if we believe that children deserve acceptance and belonging, we are laying the foundation for growth and development in our classroom.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children’s guideline for “creating a caring community of learners” supports what I am talking about in regards to teachers’ attitudes.  Creating a caring community of learners involves developing a positive relationship with each child.  It is where teachers accept all children and show all children that they belong.  In this community, teachers use guidance techniques—namely viewing children’s conflicts and misbehavior as mistaken. 

Some little things every teacher can do to SHOW that you accept all children and that they belong:

·         Greet every child as they enter your classroom

·         Get down at their level when you talk to them

·         Have a space for every child to keep his/her things when at school

·         Use inclusive language like “our class, our friends, and we”

·         Give children opportunities to interact, play with, and help each other

·         Have pictures and posters up in your classroom that are representative of all the children’s lives

·         Take time to get to know every child and family

·         Listen to what children have to say—value their ideas

·         View mistakes and conflicts as opportunities for children to learn

·         Model positive relationships

Week of the Young Child  April 19 - 25, 2009

Week of the Young Child is held each year to honor young children and thank early childhood teachers and all those who make a difference in young children’s lives.

This year, Rasmussen College ECE is collaborating with the Campus Librarians to highlight the importance of reading to young children during Week of the Young Child. 

All young children need and deserve high-quality early learning experiences that will prepare them for life, and Rasmussen College ECE has a great opportunity to do our part to help young children.   Week of the Young Child is time to recognize the importance of early learning for all young children, and to bring children, parents and ECE teachers together to help give all young children a great start.

Watch this blog for more information on Week of the Young Child.