Childrenwerechoosingtobealone.Wenoticedthechildrenwerereactinginafrustrated,angrymannerwhenanotherchildtriedtoplaywiththem. Wefocusedourattentionandenergyonusingpositivewordsandactionsinanattempttochangethispattern.
Weusednon-verbalrecognition,suchasabigsmile,afistpumpingupanddownintheair,orathumbs-up.
Thethumbs-upinthispictureoccurredwhenachildstated,"We'reallsharingtheplaydough."
Whenwesawchildrenplayingtogetherharmoniously,wenoticedwhattheyweredoingwithverbaldescriptions.
Weworkeddiligentlytokeepourdescriptionsfactualandwithoutjudgement.
"Twokidssplashintheturtle."
Afterweusednon-verbalrecognitionsanddescriptionsforashorttime,achangehappenedinthechildren.Theywerelessfrustratedwitheachotherandbeganplayingtogethermoreoften.Andtheywereexcitedtotellusaboutit!
Onedaywhilethechildrenweredancing,oneofthemyelledexcitedly,"Look!We'realldancingtogether!"
Achangealsohappenedforthegrown-upsatZoeFamilyChildcare.Themorewelookedforpositivesinthechildren,themorejoyweexperiencedinourday.
Bothparentsandchildrenenjoyedlookingatthedocumentationposterofthisstory,too.
EzraStoker-Graham
ZoeFamilyChildcare,SeattleWA
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