It is very common for us as teachers and parents, to get sometimes caught up in a setting and enforcing rules that we lose sight of the importance of connecting with our children. When we are too strict, we can create an atmosphere of fear and resentment, which makes it difficult for our children to feel close to us.

Some tips for connecting with our kids:

• We need to be mindful of our tone of voice and body language. When we are talking to our children, we need to use a calm and patient tone. Try to avoid yelling or getting angry, as this will only make our children feel and become defensive.
• We should be listening to our children without judgment. When our child is talking to us, we really need to listen to what they have to say - we should not interrupt or try to fix their problems. They just want to know that we are there for them and that we care about what they are going through.
• Showing our children affection, like hugs, kisses, high fives or other physical expressions of affection what they are comfortable with can go a long way in building a strong connection with our children.
• Spending quality time together, making time each day to do something fun and enjoyable together, like playing a game, going for a walk, making a meal together, etc.
• Being respectful of our children's autonomy - as our children get older, they will start to want more control over their own lives. We need to give them age-appropriate choices and allow them to make mistakes.

It is always important to remember that there is a difference between being strict and firm. Being strict, you can end up being a harsh parent/teacher - and our children will run away from us. Being a firm parent/teacher also means that you can be a loving and supportive parent/teacher. We can find a balance between setting rules and connecting with our children. We just need to slow down and remember what is really important.

• We need to talk to our children about why we have the rules, especially as they get older. We can explain that we are setting rules to keep them safe and healthy, and that we love them and want what is best for them.
• Be willing to compromise. Sometimes, we need to bend the rules a little bit. This doesn't mean that we are giving up on our authority, but it does show our children that we are willing to listen to them and work with them. Being kind and approachable goes far in any situation.
• Be consistent. If we set a rule, we need to be sure that it is something we believe in and can enforce consistently. This will help our children learn what is expected of them.
• Don't be afraid to ask for help. If we are struggling to connect with our children, talking to a trusted friend, family member, or therapist is important as they can often offer us support and guidance.

Connecting with our children is one of the most important parts of parenting and teaching. I hope this article helps all of us as adults to find a way to build our relationships with our children.

 

Creating a love for writing is an important part of our preschool philosophy.

Drawing on foil with white board markers and wiping with a little sponge, is an exciting invitation to develop a love for 'writing' and it also gives our little friends a feel of control as they can wipe whatever they draw.

Creating a love for writing is an important part of our preschool philosophy. And there are so many ways we apply and encourage this. We believe in making 'writing' playful and engaging, by using games, activities, and stories so that it is an enjoyable experience for our little friends. 

We model good writing habits. We let our little friends see us writing on a daily basis. By writing notes, letters, their names or writing in a journal, etc. When we write, we make sure to talk about what we are doing, why we are doing it, and we sound out the letters as we are writing them. This helps our little friends understand the purpose of writing and why it is important. 

We provide plenty of opportunities for 'writing'. Making sure that our little friends have plenty of opportunities to 'write' throughout our school day. This could include providing them with writing materials, such as pencils, crayons, and markers. It could also mean setting aside time for other writing activities, such as journal writing, and writing pads in all our class areas like our pretend and block areas.

It is important for us to be positive and encouraging so when our little friends 'write', we praise their efforts, providing them with feedback that is helpful and constructive. We celebrate their successes. When our little friends are 'writing' something that they are proud of, we celebrate this, by letting them 'read' their writing aloud to the class, displaying it on our bulletin board, or even placing it in our class book.

We also use a variety of writing forms, instead of just focus on traditional forms of writing, such as stories. We expose our little friends to magazines, newspapers, poetry, recipes, menus, prescriptions, grocery slips, letters, other environmental print, etc. 

We connect writing to their real world, so that our little friends see the importance of writing by connecting it to their own lives and experiences. For example, when they draw or paint, and they tell us about their picture, we write their story on their picture, which could be about their families, their friends, or their favorite things to do.

We make writing personal. We encourage our little friends to 'write' about their experience of more meaningful and engaging things that they are interested in and that they care about, by making sure there is paper and writing tools available at all our areas in our classroom.  

Patience is crucial. It takes time for our little friends to develop their writing skills. Be patient and supportive, and they will eventually learn to love real writing.

We encourage these strategies in our classrooms and at their homes, as we want to develop a love for writing that will last a lifetime.