Feelings

There are so many feelings that one can experience in a day! And they can change from moment to moment! Have you ever sat down and made a list of all that you felt from the time you woke up to the time you turned out the lights at night! How powerful it can be to make that list ... and model using the words with children! Another benefit of Primary Project!

Climate Changes: Outside and Inside my House

It’s a new year, and I mark it with the hanging of the new calendar. I find myself grumbling as I also stumble through the entrance of our home, through the growing array of boots, hats, gloves and mittens. The temperature outside has certainly changed, and I am reminded that once again, a new year awaits, full of hope, love and challenges.

As is tradition each New Year, I reflect on what I can resolve to do better. My attention turns to the temperature inside my home or more specifically, the climate of my family. I firmly believe that all adults (parents, teachers, coaches) who interact with children and youth have tremendous abilities to make or break the everyday spirit of a child.

I am reminded of a famous quote by Haim Ginott, a teacher, and child psychologist who worked with children and parents. He pioneered techniques for talking with children that are still regularly used today. While the quote speaks to teachers and their influence, I have always felt it applies to parents as well. With all due respect to Dr. Ginott, I have added the words, “playroom and associate” to his words.

"I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom (playroom). It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher (associate), I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized." — Haim G. Ginott

This January, and hopefully all year, I resolve to reflect on my mood and how it impacts my home. I resolve to work extra hard on the making things more joyous, and know that when I mess up (because I know I will), I can try again. I like that I can be an instrument of inspiration. How about you?


Mary Anne Peabody
mpeabody@childrensinstitute.net

Do You Hear Me?

Do you ever wonder if anyone is really there? In the rush of life sometimes it seems as though we go from place to place, activity to activity. Think of what it is like for a young child. They need to stand on a chair to look in our eyes. They need a stool to get a glass out of a cupboard. They live in a world and in space designed by adults for adults ... with an occasional playroom.

Do you hear me? They tug on our sleeves and want us to look at them.
Do you see me? They talk louder to see if we are looking.

Stop.
Take a breath.

When you see sound ... you have heard me.

Dear Principal ...

I am very glad that you had me attend the Primary Project workshop. After many years of working with children with school adjustment problems, I was surprised at how much I had forgotten. For example, 1) I am there for the children and not the teachers, 2) I have stopped using some very basic techniques for helping the children, and 3) I am missing many opportunities to work with children whom I could really help have a better school experience.


Signed,
Child Associate

Changing Colors and The Environment

This is a beautiful time of year in upstate New York. The leaves are changing, the moon seems so big, there is a crispness in the air. Last week we got the "tease" of snow ... it "smelled" a bit of snow and then rain .... well it felt light and fluffy as it gently hit my face. It is one of the things I have learned to love since moving from California 17 years ago. I even made a "leaf print". Remember how to do that? Turn the leaf upside down, put a paper on top and take they crayon to see the patterns emerge.

The Environment. I had the opportunity to conduct a training in another state recently. While I was anticipating 40 there ended up being 75 in the group. It was perhaps the last warm day of the fall and the temperature in the room was rising. While I thought it was at least 85 in the room, it probably was only 75 - 80! Participants were stuffed into a room that was not conducive for training or learning. Boxes piled high in one corner. The overhead projection was only visible for 25% of the group, there weren't enough tables, etc. By the end of the day we were cooked. The environment was not conducive to learning.

Think about your playroom. It is conducive to play? Is it simple and welcoming or it is overwhelming? Can you take half of the things out of the space ... you know kids will find plenty to do ... because they only have two hands ... it is YOU that is with them.

The space says so much.

What two things are you going to "cycle out" today?
Let us know!

Congratulations California

Scott Lindstrom says: "Still nurturing the hearts and minds of many thousands of children, teachers, and familes!"

Congratuations California! The budget is finally passed and children are still a priority through the Early Mental Health Initiative ... the budget item that supports the implementation of the Primary Intervention Program (the CA name for Primary Project!).

The amount: $15million

Way to go!

Today's Practice of the ACT model

Can I write on your knees?

A(Acknowledge) You want to write on my knees
C(Communication limit) We don’t write on each other here
T (Target alternative) There is some paper you can write one