Posts by Jenn
What if I had just…
As teachers, we can’t help but be aware of the mistakes we make and what might have happened if we had just stopped to listen. It was late afternoon in the twos and we had watercolors out. W and E were sharing a palette, working on their own paintings, while I stayed close by…
Read MoreScreaming At vs. Screaming To
As a team we are constantly reflecting on our view of children and how our perceptions shape our experiences. I found myself drawn to this idea recently exploring some of Janet Lansbury’s work. Janet explained that often caregivers think that their child is screaming at them. When you feel that a child is screaming at…
Read MorePreviously Independent Infant Struggling to Sleep
I was reflecting on a family sharing with me that their previously independent infant seemed to be struggling with sleep and they just didn’t know what to do. Mom just didn’t know how to help her infant sleep. The more I thought the more this reminded me of another family in this same struggle a…
Read MoreMistakes in Parenting
We all have moments where we aren’t our wisest, kindest, or best selves. For parents and caregivers these moments often trigger a lot of self-blame and regret but we have good news. These moments where we aren’t our best are important learning moments for our children. In fact, it is healthy for children to learn…
Read MoreTeaching Children To Get Your Attention
“Attention, actually shared attention, is a fundamental human need. Adults and children thrive when they have relationships rich with experiences of shared attention.” Young children can need a lot of attention from their caregivers and it is common for children to develop really irritating methods for getting your attention. Children are in fact very good…
Read MoreReflecting on the Words “I feel…”
In tonight’s NVC Community of Practice we were discussing the distinction between an observation and an evaluation. We bounced around a bit but then got into some deep discussion around the common cultural practice of starting a sentence with “I feel…” then of course following it up with something that is definitely not an emotion…
Read MoreNVC and Basic Trust
“If we can see our role as supporter, guide, and champion, we can relax. If we try to meet all of children’s needs this parenting journey is going to be quite stressful.” Our school does a lot of work with the RIE philosophy as well as nonviolent communication. Recently I was introducing a small group…
Read MoreResponding to Fear
Parent Question: I wondered if you had advice or resources for responding to a baby or child’s fear (at about 11 months in this case)? In the past week and particularly yesterday, our little one has been responding fearfully to some loud new sounds like the vacuum, carpet cleaner, and dogs barking. She cried/yelled and…
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