I find it interesting, given the interesting discussion on praise that we just had, that Valentine’s Day is creeping around the corner. It may seem unrelated to some, but in my mind if there is one thing that is an even more powerful reinforcer for children than praise it is love. Pure, unconditional love. That can be shown through the words you say, the actions you take, and the time you spend together.
Filed under Celebrate!, Create, Positive Guidance and Social Skills
Because I follow the brilliant Janet Lansbury on Facebook, I have come across several interesting posts about praise recently. In one of those, Lisa Sunbury of Regarding Baby shared her thoughts in Praise Not , a read I would recommend. All this reading got me thinking about praise.
Filed under Positive Guidance and Social Skills, Uncategorized
Filed under Uncategorized, Weekend Reads
“We treat everybody the same.”
It was an innocuous comment really. Assuredly said with the best of intentions.
So why did it get under my skin?
Let me make a few things clear before I begin to blur the common definition of fairness. I do think children need consistency and that they do rise to our (appropriate) expectations. That said, however, I don’t believe that “fair” means everyone gets the same thing. To me, “fair” means everybody gets what they need.
It’s that time of year again. Parents everywhere are standing behind one-way windows or sitting on child-sized chairs, trying to peek in on preschool classrooms and hoping to asertain whether or not it’s the right fit for their children.
Filed under Learning through Play and Experience
Filed under Uncategorized, Weekend Reads
In the muggy heat of the summer of 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the now famous “I Have a Dream” speech. He spoke of his dream for a future where children of all races could walk together and ”not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”. This speech, this man, and this movement are all iconic pieces of American History.
Whenever I start to feel guilty about the fact that I spent the majority of my Christmas vacation wearing my pajamas, I remind myself that I did in fact accomplish something very monumental, right there in my worn-out flannel bottoms and time-softened jersey shirt. Well, rather, I should say my son accomplished something very monumental. We cleared the first hurdle of potty-training.
