How American Kindergartens Educate Children to Socialize: Solve Small Contradictions by Yourself
Most kindergartens in the United States implement mixed-age education, and there are children aged 3 to 5 in one class. Small conflicts will inevitably occur between children. Under normal circumstances, the teacher will not intervene prematurely, but let the two small "responsible persons" communicate with each other. Even if they intervene, they only provide some guidance to let the children "make their own decisions."
In my daughter's class, there is a naughty boy, Noah. While listening to the story, he deliberately touched Sophia's foot with his foot. Sophia didn't make any noise and raised her hand to the teacher. The teacher who saw this scene asked Sophia, "What do you think should be done?" Sophia bowed her head and thought for a moment, then turned to Noah with a bad smile and said firmly, "You touched my foot. You have to say sorry to me." Knowing that he was wrong, Noah bowed his head in front of everyone and whispered "I'm sorry".
Ms Morrison, who has been engaged in preschool education for 24 years, said that children's social and emotional abilities are considered as the primary factors of personal growth. The long-term criterion for the success of kindergarten education is whether children can integrate into primary schools, middle schools and even universities as soon as possible and take part in work. Self-confidence and friendliness, dedication and persistence, exchange of feelings, listening to guidance and active participation in activities are the "consideration standards" for kindergarten teachers. While letting children know themselves, they should also help them learn to get along with others. Share toys with children, wait in line when eating, go to the toilet or play games. It is the most basic social activity for children. Solving minor contradictions is also a compulsory course for them.
Exploration: the experience of gaining true knowledge
During the summer vacation, Masilong Public Library arranged a series of manual activities for children to get in touch with natural science. Put half a cup of milk, half a cup of cream and a spoonful of sugar into a small sealed plastic bag and mix well. Put 4 cups of ice and 4 spoonfuls of salt into a big sealed bag, and then put the prepared small plastic bag into it. After shaking for 3 minutes, the cool homemade ice cream is made. Parents and children high-five each other and taste their children's works together. Besides homemade ice cream, there are homemade plasticine and homemade tornado. On July 16, the staff of the Green Institute of NASA were also invited to bring space station supplies such as spacesuits to interact with children and spread space knowledge.
"Children need to cultivate the ability to explore in kindergarten," said Joshua, the director of the kindergarten. What adults think is normal is new to children. Creating more opportunities, encouraging and guiding them to perceive and explore the "unknown world" and expanding their imagination and creativity are more conducive to children's all-round growth. In kindergarten, teachers will set the time for group activities and free activities. Even in group activities, teachers usually just stipulate that "it's time to study", and what kind of picture book to choose is "the child has the final say".
Responsibility: Cultivate a sense of responsibility from the details of life.
When my mother picked up Tian Tian from kindergarten, she took her homework from her locker as usual. This day's homework is "My Plate" launched by American Nutrition Association, which classifies all kinds of foods and illustrates healthy and unhealthy foods with examples. Surprisingly, there are differences among ordinary milk, 1% low-fat milk and 2% low-fat milk.
One of the development goals of children's social and emotional abilities is to cultivate children's sense of responsibility for themselves and others. Kindergarten will convey the idea that life will face thousands of choices, and each choice will have an impact on itself, others, even the whole society and even the earth.
In kindergarten, children need to face basic choices such as healthy food, water conservation, environmental protection and safe behavior. Early education centers, libraries, museums, etc. It will also strengthen children's outlook on life in this respect through some public welfare activities. Last weekend, children visited the "Fragile Waters" photo exhibition at the Masilon Museum in Ohio, and there were activities for children as soon as they entered the door. Through three measuring cups of 1 liter, 20 ml and 5 ml, the staff intuitively showed the children that only 2.8% of the earth's water resources are drinkable. Finally, a heuristic question is put forward: "How should we save water?" In the children's lending area of the library, the staff will also encourage children to borrow more books and read more books, which will not only "let themselves learn more knowledge, but also help the library get more operating funds". Let children feel that their actions can influence others.
Respect: A pluralistic family, celebrating the Year of China.
When she entered the park, her daughter Tian Tian was the only China child in the whole kindergarten. Mom used to worry about whether she could adapt. Ms. hollinger, the head teacher, said confidently, "There was once a child who could only speak Spanish before entering the park, and he soon got used to it. Children's adaptability is beyond our imagination, you can rest assured. " Sure enough, the enthusiastic and cheerful teacher hollinger quickly won Tian Tian's "heart". The teacher also asked Tian Tian's mother to add the corresponding Chinese to the English picture card in the classroom and show it with English and Spanish.
Before the Spring Festival last year, Mr. hollinger specially asked Tian Tian's mother about the traditional customs of the Year of China, and arranged a "China Year" party: all the teachers and students in the class put on "China Red" and posted "Spring Festival couplets" at the door of the classroom. She also specially arranged for Tian Tian to teach her friends how to use chopsticks.
In America, children can call their elders by their first names, and adults will address children as Mr. or Ms. with great respect. When being a guest, the host takes out something for the child to eat, and the parents will not decide "yes" or "no" for the child. Everything is left to the children to make their own decisions.
In China, when meeting elders, parents will ask their children to address their grandparents and say hello politely. But in the United States, adults are not "superior", but "set an example" and take the initiative to say hello to their children. They think that young children need more friendly guidance. Louis, 65, always bends down to keep the same level of sight as Tian Tian, 5, and asks, "Is my good friend Tian Tian happy today?"