Monday, February 4, 2008

Knowing your Preschoolers (part 2)

Social Characteristics of the Preschooler

Children at this age:

  • are blissfully egocentric; see the world through their own eyes.
  • are developmentally incapable of understanding another’s perspective or emotions.
  • are self-centered, yet are significantly influenced by others, especially mom, dad, teachers, other significant adults.
  • are on the verge of experiencing a wider world of people; many young children still want to play alone and must make a real effort to have any meaningful play with others.

Tips for Leaders:

  • Accept the children’s developing concepts of themselves without judging their apparent egocentrism.
  • Emphasize the theme that we are special to God: we’ve been created by God, belong to God, and are dearly loved by God.
  • Recognize that you are a role model for your little ones, someone who is a picture of God’s love and care.
  • Encourage cooperative play with others, while remaining sensitive to individual needs for attention and recognition.
  • Do your best to make the learning fun; make your room a “safe” and friendly place where kids will want to be every week.

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