I found this interesting...

...and, naturally, I thought I would share it all with you. This comes from the Reggio listserv, posted by Tom Drummond, in response to an inquiry regarding a child in the classroom who was hurting other children by pushing, hitting, etc. Subsequent posts to this suggestion have been very positive and indicated the idea was successful.

Happy Halloween to all! I'll miss the parade through Central :)

I call it “hurting others” and with the other staff list out the actions that specifically are included.
I invite people to keep a record, counting them for at least 3 days, doing the same thing as you are doing currently.

Then meet together as a staff, with parents, too, if possible, and look at what you all know. I like to put it in a planning framework that lists the setting/circumstances for “hurting” and then what usually happens afterward.

I have learned to do this, because it is a collective wisdom that generates great ideas, discussions are best built from documentation, and whoever contributes to the discussion has a stake in taking action to act in concert with others, trying the same thing the same way.

One of the ideas that I often try first is what I call a “personal record”. One draws a cartoon of a child hurting another child with some empty circles below in a row. I catch the child when she first comes in and explain our meeting and the idea for this way for her to mark instances herself. This is a factual presentation of this opportunity. I show her how to mark it by coloring or marking in one circle. Then I show her where it is kept (someplace accessible, say a clipboard on a counter). When she hurts, we say “Time to mark your chart.” Only adults give her this cue.

That is all there is to it. She marks the chart and returns to life in the classroom. No other consequences. The implication is that we view her as powerful and competent and trust that she can find a way to manage this impulse on her own.

She keeps her own record, starting with a fresh chart every day. The same chart can be used at home, too.

If hurting isn’t gone in two weeks, this is not the solution, of course.

Opportunity to gather and learn

Reggio-Inspired Network of MN


Reminder: October's Monthly Gathering
October 23rd’s Monthly Gathering will include a continuation of an ongoing conversation around the topic, “PLAY”. There will be an opportunity to tour early childhood environments, explore possibilities for inter-generational experiences with materials and engage in dialogue with other Reggio-inspired folks.
The gathering meets from 9:00-12:00 at Mount Olivet Day Services, located at 5601 and 5617 Lyndale Ave. South in Minneapolis. There are two parking lots on either side of 56th St. Come to the north building and staff will be on hand to open the doors.
Visit website http://www.mtolivethomes.org for history and info on the Day Services for children – infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Contact Dawn Lees at lees.dawn@gmail.com or call (c) 952-927-6358 for more information. There is no fee to attend.