A favorite I Love You Ritual here at High Grove is Round and Round the Garden! It is simple, quick, and little kids love it! I have seen little ones waiting in line to participate in this with their teacher. And the best part? It builds connection, which promotes cooperation. Give it a try!
Say these words as you do the actions: "Round and round the garden (Hold your child's hand while tracing circles around their palm with your other hand) Goes the teddy bear (Keep circling around the child's palm, and make sure to include eye contact and a smile!) One step, two step (Use your fingers to walk along their arm, "stepping" toward the child's chin) Tickle under there!" (Gently tickle under the chin, and watch as they smile and giggle!)
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Conscious Discipline teaches us about the importance of connecting with others. This is especially true within the parent-child relationship, in which children depend upon a primary caregiver for love, guidance, and safety. Children feel safer and cooperate more when they feel connected. Their brains are ready for learning when they are in a connected state. Here are the four critical elements of connection:
Touch - Touch creates a hormone that is essential to neural functioning and learning. Touch is the only sense that humans cannot live without. Babies not only love to be cuddled, they have a biological, fundamental need for touch, and they cannot develop without it. Children are the same way. They need appropriate, caring touch for optimal development. Hold your child's hands and play games, such as finger plays and I Love You rituals, that promote touch. Eye contact - Eye contact activates the brain structures linked to learning, empathy, and emotional development. Get down on the child's eye level to achieve eye contact. Presence - Being present means that your brain and body are in the same moment. Being present with your child means truly engaging with them - setting aside your worries, obligations, phone, and chores for a moment of true, present connection. A moment of presence is much more valuable to your child than an outing or any toy. Playfulness - Moments of playfulness and shared joy between a parent and child serve many purposes. These moments are fun, and strengthen the relationship, but they also release dopamine within the brain. Dopamine helps children to pay attention, stay focused, increase attention span, and boost social development. Take a few moments, every day, for true, joyful play with your child. Get down on the floor to start, and let your child choose a fun activity or take the lead! |
AuthorHi, I'm Brie Krentz, and I'm the School Psychologist at HGECC. I care about the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health of all of our children, and I believe in Conscious Discipline as a way to minimize behavior problems and to help children connect meaningfully with others. Archives
October 2021
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