Learner chelle0143
LearnerForum Replies Created
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I can help children regulate their emotions by practicing calming strategies when they are calm so they know what some options are when they are upset. Some of my favorites to use (that I use with my own child) are sea-life calming strategies such as clam-shell cuddle (hugging yourself) and puffer-fish puff (puffing in lots of air, holding and blowing out). Giving basic strategies fun names and a visual that they can mentally picture is really helpful for a strategy to have success when there are big moments of aggression, upset or other behavior in which the child needs help.
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I have been quite careful in this new job to “not take it home with me” so as to not get compassion fatigue, since I have experienced that working with children before. That said, this daycare does not have a lot of children experiences huge numbers of ACEs. Most live in middle-class homes, frequently with both parents, and have their needs met always. I have not had to make any calls to CPS, or had any concerns about a child’s wellbeing. However, when I do get compassion fatigue, I tend to focus on spending time with my own child and meeting my mental health needs like taking a break, or visiting the horses. Spending time outdoors (while not always practical in winter) tends to really help me refresh.
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I am going to visualize this scale with positive and negative experiences and the fulcrum that is decided by genetics. In exchanges with kids, I will want to focus on what I can do to build safe relationships, and to show consistent responsiveness and care that builds trust, and hopefully, resilience. With my own child, I could be more consistent in not getting upset when she has tantrums. In the care setting, I will focus on connecting with the child when they are having behaviors that are not allowed rather than using “don’t” words or correcting in negative ways.
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I find that finding activities to turn off my brain for a bit help me to decompress during breaks, like scrolling on a phone, adding things to my grocery order, or watching a show. It is a mental break, that leads to natural responses like slower heart rate, deep breathing, etc. I also find that making sure my needs are met throughout the day is very helpful. I always bring a large water bottle and snacks, and eat when the children eat, or between activities as needed. I keep chapstick and chewing gum in my pockets because both are sensory items for me that I find regulating, rather than ignoring a dry throat or chapped lips all day, which could be frustrating.
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I would offer the phrase “connection over correction” in many instances. As childcare providers, we tend to jump to the negative behavior as our focus or constantly correct children who are struggling to understand rules or put them into practice. Connecting first can open the gates of communication for children and get to the root cause of discomfort that could be leading to acting out, such as missing family, being hungry or other things. Simply correcting first wouldn’t give the provider the chance to hear what the child has to say, or if they need anything that can be helpful.
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When children continue dangerous behaviors like hitting or biting, and parents are spoken to, having written guidelines would be important to reference for parents. Children who continue dangerous behaviors should be sent home if measures taking in the childcare setting cannot help them to make safe choices. If parents are upset about this, having a written and publicly-posted policy about aggression or other behaviors would be helpful to show them, and allow them to perhaps connect with the child and discuss the behaviors at home.
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For a two-month-old infant, a safe crib or portable crib (like a Pack and Play) are the safest places to sleep. The crib needs to be single-level, include a snuggly fitting mattress, with sheets that are tight and not loose. Also, baby needs to be placed on their back, with no loose clothing or crib decor like pillows.
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In our area, outdoor play is sometimes challenging because we have four somewhat drastic seasons such as temperatures over 100 degrees in summer and at or below zero, with or without snow, in the winter. In order to continue physical activity indoors during this time, having options such as freeze dance parties, or child yoga and exercise videos to use for children are really helpful.Also, creating space indoors that children could be allowed to run, climb, or otherwise play physically, is a great option if there is space. Indoor small slides, or small climbing structures are common in toddler rooms for exploration, but not as much in rooms for older children. Maybe clearing a space for children to play games like Twister, Duck-Duck-Goose, or do yoga and low-impact exercise would be an option when outdoors are unsafe or unreasonable for children.
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I like to sing a song about washing hands while children wash to remind them to actually use the soap instead of just rinsing it down the sink. I sing “Tops and bottoms, tops and bottoms, in between, in between” to the tune of Frere Jaques and it ends with “and now they’re clean” which is really fun and, and an appropriate amount of time to wash hands. I also like to sing other directions such as putting extra food in garbage as well.
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I would highlight the locked doors on all the closets that might have high items, tripping hazards, or cleaning solutions that are stored out of reach of children. I would also point out the secure fence (that isn’t chain link, so people cannot easily see into it) around the outdoor play areas, and the cleanliness of the bathrooms for both staff/parents and children. I would also mention that there is a janitor who does mopping, and bathroom cleaning, and that the center staff only need to sweep, clean tables and sinks.
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In previous jobs, I was also a mandated reporter, and made a variety of calls to CPS, and filled out many a written statement for my employer as well. Some of these turned out to be nothing, while others involved serious harm to a child. In any instance, the report itself is justified, and doesn’t lead to unsafe circumstances. I had been scared to report on violent families in the past, but never had an issue with anybody learning that I was the reporter. It is kept confidential as requested and even calls to police for imminent threats to child safety were treated similarly.
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Generally, I worry about children having massive injuries from doing something unsafe, or from freak accidents like a child running on sidewalk that then trips and cracks their head open. For safety, I want to make sure that children are physically safe, and that they also feel physically safe, because the second is not always the case for all children, especially those who have or are experiencing abuse. I also want to make sure the environment is as reasonably clean as possible to prevent germ spread, such as children washing hands after using the bathroom, or sick children being sent home.
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I suggest being genuine and authentic. This creates honesty and openness in communication so there isn’t the need to feel like you’re hiding something from the families. For example, if a family asks about your personal beliefs, instead of saying “I can’t talk about that at work”, give a generic and still true answer that doesn’t break work policies. Saying “I support equal rights for all people” instead of answering if a family asks who you voted for is a more appropriate answer that is both honest and open. Being authentic also helps with communication and directness if a family wants to know how their child is doing in the program. Saying that a child had a hard day, or struggled with certain behavior issues is perfectly fine so long as it is delivered with respect and kindness.
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For my young child, I would value the most important things as somebody who values bodily autonomy and physical safety (no physical discipline), allowing for differences and acceptance of all family types and beliefs, and somebody who my child will feel safe with, and who communicates with me about any times she doesn’t feel safe.My three fears would include somebody who tries to force or share religious beliefs with my child, somebody who is racist or knowingly/unknowingly spewing hateful rhetoric in front of my child, and someone who ostracizes her for speaking two languages or coming from an only-mom family.
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Some of the ways I like to get children engaged in meaningful learning is to allow for creating of something they can use later or take home. For example, if art is generally boring, but a group of students likes to make music or various noise toys, a simple activity to blend the two is by making shakers or rain sticks. Toilet paper rolls, duct tape, plastic wrap, beans, rice or rocks and markers or stickers will work to decorate, design, fill and seal the shakers. I also tend to use music to engage children even during transitions, and frequently sing instructions or names to get attention. I learned this while teaching preschool music, and it seems to grab attention more than just saying a name, or raising a voice. It is also a bit silly and fun for the children.
