Kindness

As children grow in their social interactions, they are making decisions about who to play with and developing friendships with other children. These friendships may be brief or remain long-term. The children in room 6 are learning how to relate to other children through sharing, role playing and turn taking. While the children in the classroom are showing preferences for specific playmates, it is important to make sure children are not being excluding from play with their classmates. In recent weeks we have been talking with the children about what it means to be kind. 

Here are two of the books we have read in class:

 
The children are familiar with the term being a "bucket-filler." We have talked about "bucket-fillers" being kind and helpful. They also know that hurtful or mean actions are considered "bucket-dipping."

We have also made a chart of kind and unkind behaviors. As we read each behavior the children decided whether it was kind or unkind. The chart we created is posted in the classroom and we can add to it when we observe either behavior in the classroom.


Children are learning and developing so much during their preschool years. As they begin to expand  their ability to identify and manage their own emotions, we also want to encourage empathy and caring about other children's feelings. Classroom activities such as the ones described will continue to help the children develop empathy towards others.



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