Working with Preschoolers

Working with Preschoolers

1. Engagement

Engagement entails the process of including children in the process of learning through various activities. Learners who are engaged participate actively in various activities. These include play, eating, and learning. I plan to engage learners in all the classroom activities, and this engagement will encourage curiosity and support learning. I understand that engaging toddlers requires alignment with their interests. This implies that I must have a deep connection with the toddlers to understand their interests.

2. Relationships

Relationships in the classroom setting are critical for instruction. The relationships occur between the teachers and parents as well as teachers and learners. To create a relationship means interacting with these parties consciously. As an instructor, I rely on the information that parents and caregivers provide about their children to create meaningful contacts. Retention of these contacts with learners occurs daily through play, instruction, and direction. These relationships add greater value to the process of instruction. I consistently interact with caregivers on a weekly basis to ensure access to up-to-date information about the children.

3. Development

Toddlers go through varied development milestones. The milestones touch on emotional, social, physical, and mental development. I intend to track the development stages for different learners. The relationships with the parents and toddlers will provide this information. In addition, I can also observe their activities, responsiveness, and abilities in various activities. I can keep track of the toddlers’ milestones and address any delays with the parents through journaling.

4. Recognition

Recognition and acknowledgement are important in encouraging others. This approach works for adults. Toddlers put in effort in various activities. I learned that recognizing their effort has a positive effect. They tend to smile and lighten up. They put in more work and look forward to more recognition. I intend to utilize the recognition of toddlers during instruction. Mostly, I ask other students to applaud a certain learner’s achievement. I also clap alongside the toddlers. This boosts their confidence significantly.

5. Physical contact

Human beings are social. They crave interaction with others as well as physical contact. Physical contact among toddlers is important for their growth and development. Touching a toddler on the shoulder while encouraging them or consoling them is important due to the positive effect. I consciously hold the toddlers’ hands during play. I embrace them in the morning when they get to school. I also feel happy when I can console learners through physical contact. The process also deepens the relationships I have with the toddlers.

6. Language

Language is an important aspect of the learning process because language facilitates communication between people. I use the English language during instruction. Toddlers are in the process of mastering the language. They learn more when they hear others talking. I use language when giving instructions on various activities as well as normal interactions with the learners. I like to use simple language that is easy for them to grasp. This leads to better pronunciation among the toddlers as well as better communication skills.

7. Routine

Repetition is an essential element because it creates a routine. Predictability among both adults and children creates a feeling of safety. Among toddlers and other preschoolers, routine results in confidence and makes the accomplishment of tasks easy. In my role as an instructor, I ensure that toddlers learn what we do at certain times. These activities include eating, playing, taking naps, and taking snacks. This approach makes it easy to supervise the toddlers as they conduct these activities.

8. Choice

Toddlers appreciate choice because its existence enables them to transition easily. They fuss less about certain activities. Giving them the freedom to choose allows them to take part in self-led activities. In my class, I intend to enable toddlers to consistently choose among assorted options. This freedom of choice allows them to feel in control. Therefore, it is recommended that children are guided through this approach. Eventually, they end up doing what is required out of their own will. This process encourages toddlers to learn about decision-making.

9. Fun

Toddlers are receptive to fun activities. They willingly participate in these activities without much resistance. A fun environment promotes learning, growth, and development. Children’s interest is sparked by different activities. As an instructor, I intend to incorporate fun in learning and other activities as well. Tools such as songs and play make the process of learning involving and engaging. They become creative, which displays the level of their imagination. Thus, the fun will be a critical element of learning in my classroom.

10. Self-awareness

Self-awareness is an important concept for adults. Among toddlers, it is also important because they are going through growth. The process of creating self-awareness among toddlers needs to be intentional. It should be conscious. As an instructor, I take the role of making my learners more self-aware by telling them what I can see. Affirmations such as ‘you are good’, and actual data allow toddlers to understand themselves. I intend to instigate self-awareness more using age-appropriate language.

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How has what you have learned in this course helped you understand how to better meet the needs of preschoolers in the childcare environment and/or in organized Pre-K classrooms?

As you work on your Developmental Observation this week, reflect on how this course has helped to better prepare you to work with preschoolers in the classroom.

Create a list of 10 things that you learned and specifically state how they will help you when working with toddlers in the classroom. You will receive 10 points for each idea that you express. Please number this assignment from 1 to 10, and be sure to write at least a paragraph (8-10 sentences) for each section.