Independence Day: The Power of Free Will

 

I was working with a child recently as we were preparing to go outside to play.  He was resistant to putting on sunscreen. I had already set an assertive limit that all children must wear sunscreen for their safety.  So, I knew right away that I needed to exercise the Power of Free Will.  The Power of Free Will helps me deliver two positive choices, connect with his need for control and reach our goal of getting outside to play safely!

 

I took a deep breath and said, "You can help me put lotion on your right arm or your left arm.  Where shall we start?"  He paused and looked and me sort of stunned and then said "right!"   Then he proceeded to put out his hand for sunscreen so we could get started.   

 

This Independence Day lets focus on the Power of Free Will.  The Power of Free Will is one of the Seven Skills for Conscious Adults from Dr. Becky Bailey.  This power reminds us that the only person we can make change is ourselves. 

 

Many of us have the belief that if we come up with just the right reward or punishment we can get children to do what we want.  This belief often leads to power struggles and frustration.  It is true that we may be able to use manipulation and coercion to make children behave, but they are doing it out of fear, not by choice.  This type of behavior is driven by external forces.  What happens then when you aren't around to make them behave (or heaven forbid there is a substitute teacher)?  Isn't it our goal to help children develop the internal desire to make helpful choices and reach their goals? 

 

Dr. Bailey teaches us five steps to help us get started empowering children with the skills needed for cooperation, impulse control, and attention.     

 

Delivering two positive choices:

 

1. Breathe deeply.  Think about what you want the child to do.

2. Tell the younger child, "You have a choice!" 

    Tell the older child, "Seems to me you have a couple options."

3. State the two choices.  "You may _____ or _____.  What is your choice?"

4. Ask for the child's commitment.

5. Notice the child's choice.  "You chose _____!"

 

Let's try an example using the picture below.  This was taken in my preschool classroom.  Children love learning about the science behind popcorn!  As you can imagine it could be dangerous unless we set some clear limits for safety.  I put a large quilt on the floor and place carpet circles around the edges for each child to sit on.  If there were any issues with children staying within these limits I could use Two Positive Choices to help them.  It would go something like this...

 



If the child gets off their circle rug I would do the following:

1. Take a deep breath and remember that I want them to sit on their carpet circle.
2. Say, "You have a choice!"
3. "You may sit on your circle on your knees or on your bottom with your legs folded."
4. "How will you sit?"
5. "You chose to sit on your knees so you would be safe.  That was helpful!"

If the child is touching things I would do the following:

1. Take a deep breath and remember that I want them to keep their hands in their space on the rug.

2. Say, "You have a choice!"

3. "You may put your hands on your knees or fold them just like this."

4. "What do you choose to do with your hands?"

5. "You chose to fold your hands so you would be safe.  That was helpful!"

 

Whether you are cleaning up, getting coats on, or listening to a story giving two positive choices  helps you connect with children.  They also feel empowered to make decisions, follow the rules, and be safe at school--by choice!

 

It's difficult when you are faced with a resistant child.  Some days you just wish they would comply and do as you say.  Wouldn't it be nice if there were an easy button?!?  Adults hope to raise children who are cooperative, willing, and respectful.  We  have to accept that  it is not force that creates a respectful child, it is connection!   

 

If you have an especially resistant child that needs special help follow this link over to my blog and learn more about using choices with more resistant children. 

For more about the Seven Powers for Conscious Adults see my blog post Becoming Your Best Self:  Super Powers.  There is even a free printable poster for you to use as a reminder. 
 

 

I wish you well!

Jenny Spencer

Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor--Indiana

Ignite Learning with Conscious Discipline LLC

www.ignitelearningllc.blogspot.com

ignitelearningllc@gmail.com

Stickers, Stamps, and Stoplights...Oh MY!

Let's see a show of hands...

How many of you have ever tried some sort of behavior management system such as a stoplight, alerts, or writing names on the board in a last ditch effort to make kids behave?

I have to admit, for many years I used systems that included a stoplight, stickers, stamps, time out and a treasure box. 

Honestly, I thought I was doing the right thing.  I really didn't know any differently! 

That is, until one day when I was at our state early childhood conference with a coworker.  She wanted to attend a workshop titled:  "How to Handle all the Fussing, Fighting, Fits, and Tantrums."  Honestly, I didn't want to go.  I figured it was going to be "just another behavior workshop" telling me what I already knew.  At the time I truly believed I had this behavior thing all under control!

Since I didn't want to walk around the conference all by myself, I attended the workshop with my friend, and to my pleasant surprise what I discovered that day would change my life over the next few years!  That workshop was about Conscious Discipline and once I got a little nibble, I wanted the WHOLE BITE!

I came to discover over the next few years that the systems of stickers, stamps, and stoplights I was using were actually interfering with my relationship with my students as well as their optimal development.  In my attempt to control their behavior and I wasn't teaching them a great amount of self-control.

Conscious Discipline has given me tons of new tools that help me connect with students rather than attempting to control them.  I want to share one of the first rituals I started using in my classroom that made a tremendous difference in the sense of unity that we felt.  My hope is that you have time to prepare some rituals this summer so you can begin the next school year building connections with your students rather than planning how you'll control them!  It sure is easier on the pocketbook too! 

You can get started with your Wish Well Ritual with one easy visit to the Dollar Store.  All you need is a pizza pan, clear contact paper or packing tape, a red heart, magnetic tape, and photos of your students (or some other icon to represent all your students and classroom staff). 

It looks something like this...

 

 

Put all the pictures around the edge of the pizza pan with the heart in the middle.  We call this our "circle of friends."

 

This isn't your typical attendance routine!  It will transform your classroom!  Each day, at the beginning of the day, have one of the children count to see if everyone is present. 

 

If anyone is missing from your "circle of friends" they move that picture to the center of the heart and lead the class in singing this song.  "We wish you well, we wish you well.  All through the day today, we wish you well."  We send them heart felt warm wishes as well as prayers for safety and healing while they are away from our school family.

 

To make this more concrete for the younger children I use this little doll with a photo of the absent child in the plastic sleeve on the front.  We pass the doll around and give it a hug while we sing the song!

 

 

 

When the absent child returns to school the following day, we have another special ritual we do for them.  We call it our Absent Child Ritual.  To welcome them back to our "circle of friends" we recite this little chant and give them a butterfly kiss like this...

 

 



With the younger children we use a shiny little heart-shaped box filled with kisses to welcome the absent child back to class.  While the child is gone we pass the box around and "fill it with kisses" for our friend.  Upon their return, we "shower them with kisses" by shaking all the love out of the box  onto their head.  :)

 

This was only the beginning of our journey from a climate of control and competition to a climate of caring, connection, and love!  Connection leads to impulse control, willingness, and cooperation.

 

Suddenly, parents started telling me that instead of coming home and reporting who had to move their clip, sit in timeout, or miss recess, their children were sharing about who was missing from class that day.  They would include them in their bedtime prayers and really began caring for their classmates in a new way. 

 

I used stickers, stamps, and stoplights because I didn't know any other way.  That's what I was taught to do in college and it was what everyone around me was doing.  I didn't realize that these fear-based methods actually created more stress and inhibited learning and connection.  Now that I know better, I choose to do better.  Will you join me? 

 

Perhaps you could watch some of Dr. Bailey's videos on Youtube this summer, read one of her books, or check out Shubert's Classroom for more ideas about how to get started with Conscious Discipline or continue growing in your journey!  As always, I wish you well!

 

Jenny Spencer

Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor

Ignite Learning with Conscious Discipline LLC

www.ignitelearningllc.blogspot.com

Putting Humpty Dumpty Together Again

What is YOUR favorite Nursery Rhyme? 

One of my all time favorites, hands down, is Humpty Dumpty! 

I remember when I was about five or six and I bought a stuffed Humpty Dumpty doll at a small store in Kentucky.  I played with that doll for YEARS!!!  He climbed many walls and somehow managed to come out still in one piece!  My love for that "cracked up egg" has never changed! In fact, it continues to impact me to this day!     

So, let's get "cracking" with some multisensory ideas for you to use as you build knowledge and make memories with your little ones using our beloved friend, Humpty Dumpty!

There are many ways that Nursery Rhymes can boost social/emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development and include lots of fun science, cooking, and fine art activities that are sure to keep children interested and learning!

Did you know?  

“Experts in literacy and child development have discovered that if children know eight nursery rhymes by heart by the time they’re four years old, they’re usually among the best readers by the time they’re eight.” ~Mem Fox

Of course we always start with great children's books!  One of my favorites is Mother Goose Neighborhood!  The author puts a fun twist on over 40 rhymes with unique photos taken all around Brooklyn!  Learn more by following the link below! (*Amazon Affiliate Link)





Dave Horowitz has this fun and unique version of Humpty Dumpty that was a staple on my bookshelf.  In Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again this daring little Humpty just loves to climb...will he learn his lesson?





March is the perfect time to play with Humpty Dumpty since Spring is just around the corner and good ole' Humpty lends himself well to "spring things" such as birds, chicks, and eggs!

I usually get things rolling (pun intended) with some REAL eggs! 

This activity is best when introduced to the large group, but then broken up into smaller groups to decrease waiting time.  Bring in a WHOLE dozen eggs (or more) so everyone gets a turn!  The kids decide how tall they want the wall and whether they want Humpty Dumpty to fall on a hard surface or a soft surface!  Just look at all those language and math concepts would you!!!

Depending on the group of kids I have, either I use a permanent marker to make a face on the egg or I let the kids do it!  We make sure to discuss what Humpty Dumpty's face would look like when he sits on the wall.  Would he feel scared?  What do YOUR eyes and mouth look like when you feel scared?

The kids love doing this over and over as each child gets a turn to put their egg on the wall and recite the traditional rhyme with the group as we see what happens when he falls!

There is lots of new vocabulary involved in this lesson such as: yolk, shell, egg white (albumen), hard, soft, high, low, king's  horses and men, bricks, mortar...This would be the perfect time to have older children go back to the table and draw or write about what happened to Humpty Dumpty!

We also talk about all the other things that Humpty Dumpty could sit on that might rhyme with fall.  Some examples might be ball, mall, doll, or a stall.  Bring in or make some of these items and experiment to see what happens!  Rewrite the rhyme to include the new words and illustrations!  

As an extension, we always use the I Love You Ritual by Dr. Becky Bailey.  It goes like this:

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the kings horses,
And all the queen's men.
Could put Humpty together again."

This connecting activity has motions that go with it that help you make connections with and among children.  They include eye contact, touch, presence, and playfulness.  The underlying message of this I Love You Ritual is Safety.  You are reminding children that no matter what happens YOU will keep them safe!

Here is a short video clip of me enjoying the ritual with one of my students with special needs.  It was especially fun for him since he really enjoyed intense sensory experiences!  There are so many fun ways to modify this ritual to fit your needs!

We also made a class book with the ritual by taking photos of children doing the activity with a partner.  We added the words and then each child had a turn to take the book home to share this loving ritual with their family!  Once everyone had a turn, we added it to our classroom library and children enjoyed it over and over again!  

They also had the opportunity to illustrate their own individual books!

AND they practiced their visual motor skills by cutting apart a Humpty Dumpty puzzle and then gluing him back together again on a printed wall that included the rhyme for them to take home. 

You can also do this with a brown paper sack and let them use rectangular sponges dipped in red paint to sponge paint bricks on the bag and put their Humpty Dumpty puzzle inside the bag so they could "fix" him over and over again!

I have had these little Humpty Dumpty finger puppets for years!  I think they came from Mailbox Magazine.  Super simple!   



The kids loved having the opportunity to practice using the Skill of Empathy with Humpty Dumpty when he fell down!

Using items from the Wish Well bag they helped Humpty Dumpty regulate his sadness after his fall by offering comfort and well wishes.  Some helped him breathe by using a pinwheel.

Some gave him Band aids and kissed his boo boos.

Others rubbed Boo Boo Cream on him as they sang:
"Bye, bye boo boos!  Bye, bye boo boos!  Bye, bye boo boos!  It's time for you to heal."
(From I Love You Rituals, By:  Dr. Becky Bailey)

They even comforted Humpty Dumpty with this cozy warm heart while wishing him well!

We used these healing rituals based on the idea that "what you offer to others, you strengthen in yourself."  When the children offer Empathy to Humpty Dumpty, they are strengthening their ability to do the same for themselves.

Since I have many children in my classroom with special needs, I  try to include lots of sensory experiences along with our lessons.  This is always a real favorite!

We get out lots of shaving cream and several different sizes of wooden blocks.  The kids use the shaving cream as the "mortar" to help them build walls for Humpty Dumpty.  We give them a plastic egg and let them explore their senses as they continue to enjoy the Nursery Rhyme.



Children learn in so many different ways.  Whenever you are teaching the Nursery Rhymes it is about so much more than just the words on the page.  They need many different opportunities to interact with the materials and experience them using all of their senses!

Some other extension activities we enjoy with Humpty Dumpty include cracking and eating hard boiled eggs.  We decorate and dye eggs and we even bring in live chicks whenever we have the chance!!!

For more great ideas check out my Nursery Rhyme Pinterest Board or this great website!

I look back on my childhood and smile when I think of all the ways I experienced learning.  I'm sure that's why I chose to be a preschool teacher!  I want to give children the opportunity to have rich childhood experiences that not only make them lifelong learners, but also experiences that will perhaps impact them as a parent or caregiver someday!  What will children remember about the lessons YOU plan?  

I hope this gets your imagination "cracking" as you plan some fun Spring activities that are sure to include Nursery Rhymes! 

What are some of your favorite Humpty Dumpty activities? 

Warm Up Your Classroom with Some HOT CHOCOLATE Fun and Freebies!

One of my favorite things about winter is HOT CHOCOLATE!  I have such warm memories from my childhood of coming in after hours of playing out in the cold and being greeted by my mom's homemade hot chocolate!

This book, Frozen Noses, by Jan Car is a simply beautiful illustration of the flurry of fun children have in the snow! (*Amazon affiliate link)



It lends itself beautifully to sequencing activities such as how we get dressed to go out in the snow, the steps to making a snowman, and then what we do when we come back inside and make hot chocolate to warm up after a cold day in the snow.  Here is a link to a fun hot chocolate sequencing activity I found over on the Fox Toy Box blog.



Hot Chocolate Sequencing Activity
 

Hot chocolate is such a fun sensory activity too!  There are so many ways we can use our senses and involve hot chocolate too!  One of my favorite things to do is to simply pour some dry mix into a plastic tub and let children stir, sift, scoop, and pour the dry mix into cups.  You can also add some large and small marshmallows to include size concepts as well as counting activities! 

Here are a few of my favorite hot chocolate sensory activities I found on Pinterest.  You can find me on Pinterest too by following this link!  I would love to continue sharing ideas with you there!!!

 

This is a recipe for Hot Chocolate Paint found over on the blog Bath Activities for Kids.  It is such a simple recipe!  All you need is some shaving cream and some dry hot chocolate mix!  An alternate activity would be to add some liquid Elmer's glue to the mix and when you are done painting with it the mixture will dry like puffy paint!  What fun!

Imagine the response you would get if you set out these supplies and, to their surprise, the children open the hot cocoa mix and find none other than CHOCOLATE PLAY-DOH!!!  This idea came from Deborah over at Teach Preschool.  Deborah shares several other hot chocolate ideas in her blog including this one...

She simply added a few drops of chocolate extract to some brown paint for chocolate scented paint!  Provide the children with some mug shapes, cotton ball (or real) marshmallows, and a paint brush and they will be busy exploring for hours! 

Draw children into the dramatic play center by adding a Hot Chocolate Shop!  This idea was shared by the Preschool Playbook.  Look at all the great supplies she added to help the children get started!  There's a sign, cash register, recipes, cups, Nesquik containers, spoons, tea pots, cookies, plates, cotton balls (marshmallows), and milk!

Of course your hot chocolate activities won't  be complete without an opportunity to teach the children some relaxation techniques to help children (teachers and parents too) keep their cool while they are inside for the remainder of these looooong cold months!

When I am teaching children to relax by taking their deep calming breath I find it helpful to give them concrete items to help them practice!  The younger the child, the more concrete it must be so I came up with this idea for a "Breathing Mug"!  You can learn more about how to create "Brain Smart" activities throughout the day over on the Conscious Discipline website!

 Make your own breathing mug by following these steps:

1. Cut a mug shape out of craft foam.
2. Add some brown construction paper at the top to imitate the look of hot chocolate.
3. Spread some liquid glue around on the brown paper.
4. Sprinkle with dry hot chocolate mix like you buy at the store.
5. Using one cotton ball, stretch the cotton out to make it look like steam and glue it to the back of the mug.
6.  Secure the "steam" in place by gluing another piece of brown construction paper to the back of the mug just as you did on the front.
7. Glue on several marshmallows, let it dry and you are good to go!

                                                                      Front View

                                                                      Rear View

Gather a small group of children around and have them practice deep breathing by "smelling the hot chocolate" and then "blowing off the steam (cotton)".  Once they have grasped the concept from a sensory standpoint, it is time to let them practice on their own with these breathing sticks. 

To make your own set of breathing sticks simply print out this free printable and follow the instructions.  Give one to each child and guide them as they "smell the hot chocolate" and "blow off the steam".  These are a great tool for children to take home so they can continue practicing with their parents!

Go ahead and warm up your classroom or home with these "HOT" ideas that will make your imagination stir as the whole room begins to look, smell, and feel like a Hot Chocolate Shop!  That's not all...for more ideas that are sure to warm your heart click on over to my blog at www.ignitelearinngllc.blogspot.com and ignite learning with more Hot Chocolate Fun!

(This blog post is submitted by Jenny Spencer.  Jenny is a Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor and former early childhood teacher who blogs over at www.ignitelearningllc.blogspot.com and provides training opportunities for parents and teachers on the concepts of Conscious Discipline.  Jenny is passionate about helping teachers and parents plan meaningful activities with that will ignite learning for their children and help them become life-long learners!)





 

SNOWBALL FIGHT!!!

January is such a fun month for the young and young at heart!  If you live in colder climates like I do, we have SNOW much fun this time of year with wintery activities!  Head off cabin fever and bring some wintery fun into the classroom or home with this novel activity!

Most of the preschoolers that I have worked with over the years have communication delays.  Several years ago a speech therapist shared this fun activity with my class to help them develop their oral motor skills.  Now that I use Conscious Discipline I am always looking for ways to help my students learn to control their breath, I use this activity for that purpose too!

Begin by gathering a group of children (and adults) around a table.  Have everyone get down on their knees so their chins rest on the table. 

Grab a snowball or two (ping pong balls) and let the fun begin!  Encourage each child to take a nice deep breath and blow the ball across the table to their friends.  They better pay attention or else they might get hit by a snowball right upside the face!  No worries though, these snowballs are harmless!   

We encourage the children to put their hands below the table or behind their back so they aren't tempted to use them.  Our goal is to keep the snowball on the table without touching it with our hands!  As you can see, they often use their hands anyways!  LOL!!!

For some added fun, you could make some obstacle courses for our little snowballs.  You could let the children build some "hills" that they could try blowing the balls up and down.  You could make some tunnels out of paper towel tubes to blow the snowballs through the tunnel.  You could also turn this into a hockey game and let the children use bendable straws and make some goals to try blowing the balls into the goal with their "hockey sticks".  There are lots of fun ways you can ward off the winter blahs with a ping pong ball and a little creativity!  What other ideas can you come up with?

Have fun and make sure you stop by my blog for lots more fun winter activities to do with your little ones in the next few weeks!  Keep shining!!  Jenny Spencer, Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor  (Ignite Learning LLC)