As the school year picks up, kindergartners cry.
Imagine you are three foot-seven, coming to a 25-foot building with hundreds of other kids. You are squeezing Mom's hand tight when her grip loosens. She directs you in front of her to some other lady. Who are you?
You turn around to confirm with Mom all is okay, but she is no where to be found. Out of sight, but certainly still in mind. This "other lady" brings you into a colorful room with lot of windows.
This could be fun. Ooh, look a bean bag chair.
Twenty minutes later, after you have seen the pictures in what seems like every book on the shelf... your attention span drops. You're done. That was good enough. Time to go home. Except...
We expect five year olds to sit and listen to lectures for eight hours. These tiny humans with tiny minds are expected to do big things for a long time. There are plenty of adults who could not, or at least would not, do so. Adults cry when they get overwhelmed. Are children expected to be more stable than their elders? Kindergartners need empathy, play, and guidance.
We have taken away naps, reduced recesses, and added stress. Of course children need to learn and develop, but sit still and shut up is not the way. Many kindergartners have not been given the chance to learn social skills. Not practicing skills like asking versus telling, sharing, or even simply sitting close to others, is detrimental to their education. This can impair their academic learning by causing them discomfort around other children.
Kindergartners need time to finger paint, dress up, build, and dance. Play is important. Guided play is the way to strengthen young kid's hearts and minds. Its no wonder kindergartners cry by 2 pm, when they usually have napped twice by then. We are throwing them into the ocean, expecting them to swim, and telling them not to cry even when they get bit by a piranha.
Why do we expect children to do things most adults won't do? Is it because we want the best for them? To be better than us? Or is it simply a power move? Kindergartners are expected not to do kid things at school, at home, or in public. When are these kids supposed to be children? Kindergartners are having a crucial time in their lives for development crushed by societal expectations of obedience. As parents, educators, specialists, and support workers, we must take it upon ourselves to provide our youth with options and independence.
Of course Kindergartners are going to tell you, "no". Adults tell each other the same things all of the time. If our youth did not learn to say no, they would have much of their autonomy compromised. Still, we must teach children to respect authority. This is why it is important adults around children be conscience of their language and intentions. Try asking children, "which desk do you want to sit at? This one or that one?" Instead of, "sit down at this desk!" Why do we do this? Because children appreciate independence. They want to make decisions for themselves and feel as if they are in control. Sound familiar? This is part of development. We continue this desire for self-control in adulthood.
Remember back to a time when you did something for the first time. Maybe that is riding a bike, trying brussel sprouts, driving a car, or going to college. Weren't you nervous? Was it overwhelming? Life is not easy... especially when you have only been doing it for five years.
Kindergartners should never be told not to cry. Kindergartners should be told it is okay to be sad, and helped through their emotions. One can help a kindergartner stop crying by refocusing them on the problem at hand and helping them come to a solution. If you have a child crying because they miss their parent, have them draw a picture of their family. Refocus their mind with something they enjoy. They won't be able to focus on school, anyway, if they are emotionally and mentally distracted.
Kindergartners deserve support, play, empathy, and guided intellectual growth. If you throw them a book and ask them to be quiet, they will not learn. Try reading with them, and going over phonics every other page. Make a funny character voice and connect with your kindergartner. They will learn.
Imagine you are three foot-seven, coming to a 25-foot building with hundreds of other kids. You are squeezing Mom's hand tight when her grip loosens. She directs you in front of her to some other lady. Who are you?
You turn around to confirm with Mom all is okay, but she is no where to be found. Out of sight, but certainly still in mind. This "other lady" brings you into a colorful room with lot of windows.
This could be fun. Ooh, look a bean bag chair.
Twenty minutes later, after you have seen the pictures in what seems like every book on the shelf... your attention span drops. You're done. That was good enough. Time to go home. Except...
We expect five year olds to sit and listen to lectures for eight hours. These tiny humans with tiny minds are expected to do big things for a long time. There are plenty of adults who could not, or at least would not, do so. Adults cry when they get overwhelmed. Are children expected to be more stable than their elders? Kindergartners need empathy, play, and guidance.
We have taken away naps, reduced recesses, and added stress. Of course children need to learn and develop, but sit still and shut up is not the way. Many kindergartners have not been given the chance to learn social skills. Not practicing skills like asking versus telling, sharing, or even simply sitting close to others, is detrimental to their education. This can impair their academic learning by causing them discomfort around other children.
Kindergartners need time to finger paint, dress up, build, and dance. Play is important. Guided play is the way to strengthen young kid's hearts and minds. Its no wonder kindergartners cry by 2 pm, when they usually have napped twice by then. We are throwing them into the ocean, expecting them to swim, and telling them not to cry even when they get bit by a piranha.
Why do we expect children to do things most adults won't do? Is it because we want the best for them? To be better than us? Or is it simply a power move? Kindergartners are expected not to do kid things at school, at home, or in public. When are these kids supposed to be children? Kindergartners are having a crucial time in their lives for development crushed by societal expectations of obedience. As parents, educators, specialists, and support workers, we must take it upon ourselves to provide our youth with options and independence.
Of course Kindergartners are going to tell you, "no". Adults tell each other the same things all of the time. If our youth did not learn to say no, they would have much of their autonomy compromised. Still, we must teach children to respect authority. This is why it is important adults around children be conscience of their language and intentions. Try asking children, "which desk do you want to sit at? This one or that one?" Instead of, "sit down at this desk!" Why do we do this? Because children appreciate independence. They want to make decisions for themselves and feel as if they are in control. Sound familiar? This is part of development. We continue this desire for self-control in adulthood.
Remember back to a time when you did something for the first time. Maybe that is riding a bike, trying brussel sprouts, driving a car, or going to college. Weren't you nervous? Was it overwhelming? Life is not easy... especially when you have only been doing it for five years.
Kindergartners should never be told not to cry. Kindergartners should be told it is okay to be sad, and helped through their emotions. One can help a kindergartner stop crying by refocusing them on the problem at hand and helping them come to a solution. If you have a child crying because they miss their parent, have them draw a picture of their family. Refocus their mind with something they enjoy. They won't be able to focus on school, anyway, if they are emotionally and mentally distracted.
Kindergartners deserve support, play, empathy, and guided intellectual growth. If you throw them a book and ask them to be quiet, they will not learn. Try reading with them, and going over phonics every other page. Make a funny character voice and connect with your kindergartner. They will learn.
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