Learner Kiley Kaye
LearnerForum Replies Created
-
To help children recognize their emotions, you can approach them when they are frustrated/angry in the moment, and describe to them what you are seeing that leads you to believe they are frustrated/angry. You can follow this with trying to figure out what upset them, and then move on to trying some self soothing techniques, while offering your guidance. You can have them practice deep breathing, counting to a number, or backward from a number if developmentally appropriate. My favorite way to self soothe is to listen to my favorite music or watch a small clip about a cute animal. I can offer music listening to the child if they think it would help them, and teach them some of the techniques I use personally when doing so myself. For example, I enjoy doing a few small movements along with the song, but other times I prefer to be totally still with my eyes closed just absorbing things. I can teach the child both of these options and then allow them to choose what they need in the moment.
-
When I start to experience these feelings, I make sure to give myself a break from the current situation, and to do things that I enjoy. Even if I can only take 5 minutes away from the class, I will sit in a quiet space, and look at pictures of my cat, or watch silly videos on the internet to illicit a laugh. I will make sure to then go home that day and continue to participate in activities I take joy in.
-
Responsive exchanges can be as simple as checking in with a child when you notice that they are acting upset or exhibiting challenging behavior, especially if this is not typical for the child. Speaking with the child in a manner that validates them as their own person, and drawing the child in to games and activities with you and the other children can also be huge in developing their own self confidence and emotional regulation.
-
Some of my favorite ways to release stress are reading fiction books that interest me; spending time with my cat, indoor and outdoors; cooking meals I enjoy with my significant other; during times when I am stressed at work, I really enjoy getting outside with the children and chasing each other around and just being silly in general. It lightens things up, and allows me a physical release of any emotional energy I’ve got stored up.
-
I would encourage them to get on the child’s level and look around the care environment to find objects or activities that could be particularly engaging for the child. When introducing the child to the activity, positivity and encouragement are huge in making the child feel comfortable to explore further. I would encourage them to ask lots of questions about the outgoing, talkative child, and to sit a little quieter and observe, occasionally offering helpful input for the reserved, shy child. Adaptability is key to reaching each child where they are at and bringing them out of their shell.
-
I think in situations where caregivers disagree on how to handle challenging behavior from a child, and one is not so kind when dealing with the child, that the guidance policy would be hugely helpful. This way everyone can read through and understand what is appropriate and what will not be tolerated.
-
A 2 month old should be sleeping in a single child crib with a snuggly fitting mattress.
-
I think the best ways to encourage their development through physical activity are songs/activities that go hand-in-hand. At my previous facility, I would set the children up for a ‘dance party,’ and the songs I would use had movements that it instructed the children to do to go along with the song. When they would get tired of these instructional songs, I would find kid friendly versions of their favorite songs from the radio and allow them to dance and move freely to the music, so long as they stayed on their x on the floor. This allowed them to release a lot of energy but kept them from injuring each other.
-
You can make healthy habits fun by employing little games or songs with the habitual activities. I love using short songs to encourage children to wash their hands for the recommended amount of time, as the children really enjoy singing along.
-
Safety procedures I would highlight while giving parents a tour through my facility are; fire exits; areas where emergency procedures/supplies are posted; all doors to outside lock securely, and windows have privacy shades (in the event of a lockdown); location of walkie-talkies for staff communication; and location of fire extinguishers/AED.
-
If I suspected child abuse or neglect- since I am an assistant teacher- I would first go to either my lead teacher, or the director, whoever I could get in contact with the quickest. I would consult them, inform them of my observations, and tell them what I suspect and get their input. I would then report the findings to set in progress an investigation by the proper authorities.
-
My biggest worry about keeping children safe comes to infants in particular. They explore the world by putting objects in their mouth, and I am always so worried that something could cause them to choke, or they could run with it and fall and hurt their mouth or throat. I am extra vigilant when they pick up a toy to inspect this way, but I know that there is always the chance for a child to become hurt.
-
I think it’s most important to establish a really open and honest communication style with the parents immediately. I prefer to tell them on the first day of meeting them that it is my responsibility to sometimes be the first person to spot something wrong with their children, and then act upon my observation to inform them and help them take the necessary steps forward. I also like to let them know that I have nothing but their children’s best interest in mind, and respect them as the foremost care givers and influencers of their child.
-
The 3 most important things I would want from my child’s provider are:
1 To know that they either have every required training/background checks by the state, or have a year plus of experience (I work in NIDO, so I think in terms of this age group the experience would be very important for me)
2 I would want to feel comfortable talking with them about any questions or concerns I might have
3 I would want to observe and sense a joy for working with children in my interactions with them.
-
I have had the best success when encouraging the children to dance. I’ve loved being able to get onto youtube and find a children’s song they know that’s been tweaked enough to make it into something they want to dance to. Playing along with them is huge in getting their engagement in a positive way, and helping them control their body movements through demonstration, so as not to hurt peers around them.
