Gratitude can be difficult to teach very young children. It's a little abstract - it is not something you can see or touch. And it requires a little mindfulness and metacognition. But it is so important, and it's never too early to introduce the concept of gratitude with some age-appropriate activities! The Thanksgiving holiday season is a perfect time to begin.
Try this activity - create a Gratitude Window display in your home! Older children can write something they are thankful for, while younger children can draw or hang pictures. This can be something that the family completes together, or that family members add to over several days. It will encourage everyone in the family to notice and think about things they are grateful for, and will be a beautiful reminder every time you look out the window. Some other ideas? Try placing a gratitude jar somewhere in your home, with small pieces of paper where children can write or draw something they are thankful for. Or create a gratitude tree, where each paper leaf represents something to be thankful for. It could be a family tradition to add to the tree each year. Model gratitude by frequently saying things you are thankful for. You can say, "I'm thankful for you!" and then say it a different way, "I'm so happy I have you in my life." Also, encourage your children to complete thankful acts, such as writing thank you notes or visiting someone to thank them face to face. Get involved in the conversation with your child, practice it frequently, and they will begin to understand. Families who practice gratitude together are more likely to feel content and present! Give it a try!
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The holiday shopping season will soon be upon us. If you are like me, you might find this overwhelming. The amount of toys, the amount of choices, the amount of sensory stimulation - it can all be too much. And we seem to live in a culture in which MORE is valued as BETTER. But this is simply not true, especially when it comes to early childhood development. Play is sooo important for childhood well being and early brain development. But this does not mean we need a toy room filled with toys. And it does not mean we have to have expensive, shiny, battery-operated toys. When it comes to toys, less is more in terms of amount and function. Let me explain what I mean...
Children play better and stronger when they have FEWER choices. Consider decluttering your children's play areas so that they have fewer choices, so that the choices are easily accessed and easily put away, and so that they can play more imaginatively with the toys they have. Children also play better when the toy DOES less. Although children are intensely interested in cause-and-effect, interactive toys (the toys that have buttons, lights, sounds, and batteries), their play with these toys is limited in scope and does not require imagination (which later becomes nonverbal reasoning and strong executive functioning skills). A study, published by Elena Smirnova in the International Journal of Early Years Education (2011), placed children into two groups - one with an interactive duck toy with buttons, lights, and sound effects, and one with a simple, plush duck "character" toy. The children were also given some play accessories: such as pretend bedding and food. The children who were given the interactive toy demonstrated functional play that was limited to pushing buttons and waiting for the effects. They did not engage with the accessories, play imaginatively, or take on the role of the animal. The children who were given the plush duck engaged in play schemes and IMAGINATION! Their play was so much stronger! My point is this - when you add toys to your home, choose wisely. Avoid battery operated toys that simply demonstrate cause and effect. Choose the simple toys that stimulate imagination! Remember that less is more. And remember that the best toy in your child's world is you - their parent. |
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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