Early Childhood Development

I believe that All By Myself by Aliki, and I’m going to like me by Jamie Lee Curtis would support the healthy social and emotional development of a young child. The book “All By Myself” by Aliki, is about what children can do independently. It describes a child being able to dress, undress, button, zip, scrub, rub, paint, brush, sit, wash, run to the bathroom, and write all by themselves. Next, the book “I’m going to like me” by Jamie Lee Curtis, is about showing kids that the key to feeling good is liking yourself because you are you. The bouncy text alternates between boys’ and girls’ points of view as they explore their physical attributes and personalities in charming rhymes.

As teachers/parents, we can promote social-emotional development by embedding our teaching practices throughout the day. Remaining sensitive to children’s needs helps them feel secure and confident, and acts as a model for effective social behavior. For example, asking questions to help children find a solution to a social conflict helps them develop problem-solving skills. Reading a story and engaging children in a conversation about a socially challenging situation can also serve as a lesson in handling social problems as well as in literacy. If we seek children’s opinions, we should allow children to initiate activities and are flexible about responding to children’s ideas. By this, we will build children’s feelings that they are competent and respected, and all the same time motivates their desire to learn. By promoting consistent structure with play, it provides consistent structures and expectations about appropriate behavior. Through play activities it helps them remember and follow classroom norms, and behave in ways that are conducive to learning. Creating routines of fun and meaningful activities such as songs, chants and games can minimize problems or stress during challenging times, such as when children wait in line or during