Rituals Used to Develop Friendships Friendships and social play skills are key competencies for our preschoolers to develop. They help form the foundation for long term success in school and in the community.
Head Start uses Conscious Discipline, a social-emotional learning program designed by Dr. Becky Bailey. The program offers relationship building activities that promote skills like taking turns, sharing, being kind to one another, and helping one another. We talk time and after transitions. Teachers and individual students benefit about our “school family.” from scheduling regular one-onConscious Discipline also helps one I Love You Rituals when us teach the children to have selfthere is a call for help from a child control and to self-regulate. during difficult behaviors such as It gives them ways to respond to aggression, tantrums or withdrawal. each other when we are emotional “I Love You Rituals are helpful for and it helps figure out the triggers all children, but are particularly that cause us to become emotional. essential to fostering healthy For example, “I Love You” Rituals connections and development,” are structured connecting activities said Firelands Head Start teacher that include eye contact, touch, Jennifer Ketchum. “They are presence and playfulness. critical to engaging children with Classrooms benefit from I Love challenging behaviors, as well as You Rituals in routines like the those who are at-risk, or experience Brain Smart Start, during circle special needs.”
Greeting rituals also encourage friendships. Our preschoolers have the opportunity to be the greeter each morning and they ask their friends how they want to be greeted in the morning by giving them several options as they are welcomed in the classroom. “Greetings provide a way to connect with every family that enters the classroom,” Dr. Bailey says. “All parents/guardians want to know their children are going to be safe and valued, and have a fun day of learning while at school.”
Ultimate Gift Ideas to Foster Open-Ended Play The best way to describe openended toys are those that can be used 100+ different ways and in infinite possibilities. Open-ended toys don’t light up, play cute songs and are not used for singular type of use.
X Wooden Doll House with furniture and people X Toy cars & track to build X Play-doh X Art Materials (paper, crayons, glue, scissors, etc.) X Dress Up & Role Play Items (costumes, tea set, doctor kit, pretend school or restaurant) X Animal Figurines X Play Fort Kits / Playhouses X Musical Instruments
Children don’t tire of open-ended toys. They spark brain-boosting skills that will serve them well in Great Open-Ended Gift Ideas: school and life. Children are using X Wooden Blocks, Duplo, Legos, their imagination, creativity, vision Magna Tiles, Gears and patience. Let’s not forget their X Baby Dolls & Accessories trial and error and problem solving Let’s not forget a great book is also (stroller, bottle, etc.) skills. a wonderful gift idea!
