PRACTICAL Way to Effective ECE Teaching

Hands-on learning enables students (prospect teachers) to reap the most benefits from their courses so as to better prepare themselves for teaching in early childhood education.

Here are some of the benefits of hands-on learning:

1. Greater retention of programme material

According to study, students are able to remember three and a half times more than just listening intently in lecture room.

2. Access to materials used on a job in real-time

Touching and working with the materials enable the students to get a feel of the materials and process. Furthermore, when it comes to early childhood education, students need to know how to demonstrate the skills to children.

3. Simulated learning in a friendly environment

Students will feel motivated to learn as much as possible, especially when given a challenging task.

4. Development of critical thinking skills

Instead of just relying on memory and attention, students will develop critical thinking skills when handling the materials and achieving the goals in hands-on learning activities.

At Institut CECE, we organize class activities so as to ensure they are familiar with the overall process.

Diploma students of Institut CECE enjoying themselves in paper-making activity during one of their Science classes.

Menu and cuisines prepared by students of Institut CECE during a class activity.

Further reading:

• Further Study: Trained & Qualified Early Childhood Educators?
• Further Study: Be a Trained, Certified and Qualified Educator of Young Children (1)
• Further Study: Be a Trained, Certified and Qualified Educator of Young Children (2)
• Kids.Play n Learn: Green n Grow

How Respecting the Children Increases Their Self-Esteem (2)

In any given situation, we adults are prone to exercise our seniority when communicating with children and adults alike. In reality, despite their height, children do need respect to develop their self-esteem. Why don’t we respect their needs just like as we do for other adults?

In an earlier post, we have shared on 3 ways that can help to increase self-esteem in children.

Now, let us move on to another 3 ways:

1. Respect the child’s interests

Each of us is born with talents and interests. As long as the interests / hobbies are sensible, parents and teachers alike shall give encouragement and support to help those children to develop their skills. It is not so much about developing the skills to make a living out of them. Rather, it is more about nurturing good habits, such as discipline, pursuit of thoughts, giving their best and enjoying what they do. Children with hobbies benefit greatly as they will gain additional skills on top of what are thought in classroom.

2. Respect the child’s creativity

Many psychologists have pointed out that children who are strong in creativity tend to be less disciplined and disobedient. Instead of getting them to do things in a certain way, let them express themselves in their own ways. With this, we are stimulating their creativity and help to hone their skills.

3. Respect the child’s needs for being understood

We have a need to be understood. So do children. When misunderstanding occurs, we adults shall focus more on how to make the environment a better place for the children instead of refusing to admit the mistakes we have made. A simple apology to the children will in fact strengthen our relationship and cultivate the value of respect in children. They will regain their trust in us which in turn will enhance their self-esteem.

This coming Malaysia’s Children’s Day (26 October 2013), let us put our hands together and create a better place for the children of tomorrow.

Further reading:

• How Respecting the Children Increases Their Self-Esteem (1)
• Study says: Parents’ Yelling and Hitting Are Equally Harmful
• How to Say No Without Saying No
• Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby’s Brain

The 5 Languages of Children

Book title:

The 5 Love Languages of Children

Author:

Gary D Chapman (PhD), Ross Campbell (MD)

How children interpret love? How can you ensure that children feel a sense of security in which they can thrive?

“Of all the ways we misunderstand one another, perhaps the most harmful is to not properly communicate love to our children. Can you speak – and do you speak – your child’s love language? Every child has a primary language of love, a way in which he or she understands a parent’s love best.”

Have you discovered your child’s primary language of love?

In The 5 Love Languages of Children, you will be able to discover:

• Your child’s love language
• The link between successful learning and the love languages
• How love languages can help you discipline more effectively
• How to build a foundation of unconditional love for your child
• Practical ways to speak your child’s love language

Here’s the table of content that works wonder on love language:

This book not only is able to help parents to discover the love language of their child but also is able to help teachers to understand more about children’s psychology.

How Respecting the Children Increases Their Self-Esteem (1)

Experts point out that children who feel being respected have stronger self-esteem, self-reliance and energy.

When communicating with children, we adults often than not have a certain expectation on their behaviours and school performance. When children start to feel that they are not being respected or listened to, they may resort to certain behaviours to catch your attention. Over time, these behaviours may contribute to mental health issues.

How can we ensure that children grow up in a healthy environment?

1. Respect the child’s personality

Early childhood is the time when children develop their personality. In fact, each one of us has different personality. If we could respect our friends etc. for their differences, we couldn’t we respect those of the children? If adults frequently try to force the children to behave in a certain way without giving them the opportunity to choose, they may not be able to develop decision-making skills. Even if the choices they made are not right, at least, they will learn from the wrong choices they have made instead of having everything laid out properly for them.

2. Respect the child’s emotion

Let them express their emotions freely. Emotion is an outlet to release both positive and negative energies from our body. Don’t we, as adults, feel uncomfortable and stressed out when we weren’t allowed to express our emotions freely? Don’t we feel a surge of relief once we express those emotions? Same applies to the children. In fact, they are emotionally weaker than us adults. Suppressing emotions over a long period of time may lead to low self-esteem, depression or other mental health issues. Hence, respect their needs to release their emotions even if you may find it incomprehensible.

3. Respect the child’s needs

All of us have our own needs. So do children. As long as the child’s needs are reasonable, we shall give our best to fulfil their needs. Frequently rejecting children’s reasonable needs will make them feel that they are not being loved and not important.

Above all, parents, teachers and everyone involves in communicating with children shall nurture those children in terms of positive thinking. We can achieve that by reflecting on our actions and reactions towards matters in life and lead by example.

Further reading:

• Study says: Parents’ Yelling and Hitting Are Equally Harmful
• How to Say No Without Saying No
• Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby’s Brain

Teaching Your Child to Care for the Elders

This 10 October 2013 is World Mental Health Day, an initiative of the World Federation of Mental Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness on mental health issues via its strong relationships with the Ministries of health and civil society organizations across the globe. This year, the theme centres on “Mental health and older adults”.

How can we include the grandchildren in caring for their grandparents?

Here are some suggestions that you can opt for:

1. Weekly family time

Arrange a time to have a little family gathering on a weekly basis. Some of the activities that can be arranged are having a meal, watching television or movie, or playing puzzles together.

2. Reading

Let your child read to the elders. It can be from a favourite book or even engage in a role play.

3. Travel

Have a vacation with the family once a while. This experience can provide a quality time for both the grandparents and the grandchildren, and strengthen their relationship.

4. Hug

Hugging is beneficial to health. It helps to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve memory. It also teaches your child on how to give and take. According to Virginia Satir, a respected family therapist, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”

These activities create a quality time for the whole family (3 generations) and teach the children to cherish family relationships. Nurture the children as early as possible in caring for the elderly so as the value will be ingrained into their heart.

Thematic Approach: What about Plant?

In thematic approach, children learn new knowledge through theme-based activities. The children will reap more benefits from this approach as they learn in whole rather than in bits and pieces.

Here is an example how the thematic approach is applied to learning about plant.

1. Select a topic
2. Have a brainstorm session with the children to collect ideas and interests of children

  

3. List key questions

4. Explore

5. Observe and investigate

6. Record using a pie-chart

7. Planting

 

   

8. Record plant growth

 

9. Harvest & consumption

Further reading:

• Thematic Approach to Teaching & Learning