But Teacher... You said I could!

By: Debbie Hasbrook, M.Ed.
               
My children laugh at all the things I agreed to when I wasn't completely listening to their requests. A quick “Uh, huh,” and 15 pizzas might end up at my door!

How easy it is to zone out, tune out, and let your mind wander during the day. We must work at being engaged in conversation with the children, not just watch over them. An absent minded “Uh huh,” and “That’s nice” may deliver some unintended results.

One of the impediments to engagement is the disparity in height. We are tall, children are often shorter.  I am on the short side myself, and can tell you from experience that getting someone’s attention that is much taller than me is sometimes a challenge.  So is watching a parade, walking with someone at the mall with long legs, and climbing out of certain trucks.

If you find yourself daydreaming, or answering questions without truly having heard them stop what you are doing. Take a breath, gaze into the eyes of the speaker and really listen to what is being said.

We all want to be heard, it makes us feel valued, and maybe you won’t end up with 15 pizzas in your freezer.

About the author: Debbie Hasbrook is a full time trainer with Successful Solutions Training in Child Development. Debbie has worked with children and families for 37 years. In that time she has been a home provider, teacher, director, Regional and State conference presenter and Adjunct faculty at a number of colleges in Washington State. Her education includes a Master of Education, Montessori Preschool Degree and several certifications. Debbie is independently approved through the Washington Dept. of Early Learning as an advanced trainer, which qualifies her to provide Washington STARS and CDA Training. In addition, Debbie is an approved Master Trainer in Oregon for the Core Body of Knowledge training.

Related training:
A Simple Approach to Knowing the WAC's: Staff Interactions with Children - 2 hours
A Basic Approach to Communication with Children - 2 hours
Positive Communication with School Age Kids - 1.5 hours
www.cdatraining.org