Importance of Regulation and Social Development
This time of year children all over (and parents) prepare to leave the lazy carefree days of Summer and prepare for a new school year. As you embark on the journey of whatever milestones this year will provide, there are important skills that you can help your child develop that will set them up for success. The ability to regulate and function in social settings are big tasks and come with big feelings. There are ways in which we can help young children progress both at school and at home.
Foundation Talk - What is Self Regulation?
Self Regulation, or Self Control, is the ability a person has to direct their feelings/ emotions, and actions. All of us need to manage our emotions, thoughts and behaviors given various situations we find ourselves. As we mature and grow, these mechanisms and their ability to prevail over our emotions and behaviors in a helpful positive manner change and grow with us, hopefully in a positive way!
For young children, for example Infant ages, Self Regulation can be identified as a developing skill when sucking their fingers, or looking away when they need a break. For Toddlers, biting is a common way of coping in stressful situations and this is sometimes a way for them to control their situation. In pre-school children taking turns is often a hardship, and will stretch regulating capacity. As in all other aspects, practice of this skill will assist in its development and implementation.
And, Social Skills?
The term "Social Skills" refers to one of the most complicated and confusing, yet REWARDING aspects of teaching and parenthood. It's no secret that young children are naturally egocentric, finding difficulty in sharing, cooperating and working together or taking turns. Same as regulation, children need to be presented with opportunities to practice these skills often and in various settings with various forms of approach. Learning to treat others with respect and kindness builds character, learning to listen to others, being a leader and a follower, learning to take directions or criticism all take practice.
How can EastGate help?
ABS's and 123's are a small but consistent part of our daily routines. We incorporate social- emotional development in everything we do here with the Big 5, The Begin Approach: Core Skills, Creativity, Curiosity, Critical Thinking, Character.
"All my kids do is play all day!" is a common belief amongst parents/ guardians with young children in ECE programs. Though it may appear to be just playing- IT IS PURPOSEFUL. Through interactions with peers and with teachers, young children are developing and practicing social skills and self regulation in a positive way with a natural motivation. Play will provide unscripted opportunities under a watchful eye and in a safe place with people your child trusts and will innately look to for guidance during hard moments.
These times throughout the day are revisited and reinforced in group times, with specific books and related themes, through art and music.
Home/ School Connection- What can you do at home?
There are so many things you do at home with your child and may not even recognize it. So we will just name a few that are most important to be mindful of:
- Model desired behaviors and desired words, calmly and purposefully, and consistently.
- Maintain routines and a schedule whenever possible
- Put the phones down, be mindful, present and engaged
- Make chores a family affair. Taking care of a home and job and family can be stressful, enlist some help from your little, they can do it!!! And moreover, it gives you the time with your child to get something done together, purposefully.
Birth to five years, children are learning and soaking up their world. They pick up from what is around them and their environment, they learn from experiences first hand, and all the while these perceptions and tiny windows of time create their knowledge of the world and their own place within it. While the concept of this is scary, home and school partnerships together can lighten loads, we can help guide and share insight and resources.
We can do this!