Love and Friendship are hot topics in our classroom this month. How do you act like a friend? How do you ask for a turn? What if you feel hurt? How do you make a friend?
We have been reading books about friendships, such as A Bargain for Francis, A Really Good Clubhouse,
Toot and Puddle and Frog and Toad are Friends. Elephant and PIggy books by Mo Willem are very funny, and Todd Parr's books about feeling good and being who you are are colorful and fun.
We consistently give the message to the children that everyone belongs, you are in charge of yourself, and you can ask for what you need. When there is conflict (and where in the world can there be a wonderful group of 4 and 5 year olds without a little age appropriate, healthy conflict) we encourage the children to speak to the person who may have hurt their feelings, bumped into them, or even said something unkind. We have comforters in our classroom as a responsibility, and those children can offer a kind word, a hug, or a solution to a hurt feeling (with support from the teachers). We are working on a book that asks the question "How Can I Make a Friend?"
Some of the children's ideas included "Smile" or "make a picture for them" or even "just by building with them".
We created a wonderful Valentine's Day party that included Valentines to give each other, Valentine Bingo, a delicious snack of waffles and strawberries, and lots of love.
A favorite book for Black History Month was Brown, the Many Shades of Love and Our Class is a Family.
as well as We are a Neighborhood. The children have begun to create "neighborhoods" on the block rug, so that everyone can find a space to build.
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