Kids are People too
It is often the case that we do not acknowledge that kids are people. Individuals with thoughts, feelings, opinions, concerns, joy, and sorrow. This includes infants, preschoolers, and elementary school students, into adulthood. Each child is different and has unique needs, thoughts, and understanding. It is all about keeping children safe and healthy. The connection between the brain and trauma.
Children do not Forget
A young child may not be able to articulate their needs and have little agency. Mistakenly believing that what they experience will soon be forgotten and not have long-term effects. As we learn more about the developing brain, we know this is false. We have learned this through extensive research on how the brain works. Through the qualitative research and long-term studies of children who have experienced a traumatic event(s). How can we mitigate trauma?
You can make a Difference
It is suggested that if a child has at least one person in their life they can trust and count on, it may mitigate a negative or traumatic experience. This provides children with the possibility to overcome or at least cope with something they do not understand or what was done to them. Trauma will still leave scars.
The Scars can run Deep
But if early scars are deep enough, they never go away and can only be managed. Possibly, throughout a person’s lifetime. For many the scar is too deep and young to older adults may engage in self-medicating, self-harm, or acting out. You may be experiencing this yourself. You probably know someone in this situation.
The World of a Young Child is Small
When a child is very young their world is very small. They spend most of their day at home, with family and possibly childcare. Is your home or childcare space a positive, safe, and healthy space? It is up to the adults to make a difference.
Where do your Priorities Lie?
The care of a young child must always come first in the lives of the adults around them. Is your child important enough to you to change things about yourself so you can be a better parent or guardian? Are the children you care for in group care important to you? To inspire you to be a better person and professional educator? Be a child’s hero.
Children Cannot Protect Themselves
A child cannot protect themselves from emotional or physical harm or neglect. Are you a kind and caring caregiver? Are you clear about expectations with reasonable discipline practice that does not cause harm? Remember, children are always watching. You may tell a child not to do this or that. But in the end, they will probably do what they see you do. You are your child’s first and most important teacher and protector. You are in charge of a child’s daily experience.
Experience is the Greatest Teacher
Is your child seeing, experiencing, or being exposed to violence, or unsafe substance behaviors that scare or endanger a young child? That puts a child’s safety in peril. Are you protecting your child from violence and scary things out there in the world? Or are you bringing these things into your home? Young children do not understand.
You can’t Un-see it
Many parents and caregivers are unaware that when a child sees violent or inappropriate video games, movies, music, and social media it influences them emotionally and biologically. If they are in the same room but appear not to pay attention, they are. Very young children are not cognitively developed yet to understand it’s not real.
Only Age Appropriate
A 3 or 4-year-old shouting vulgarity, foul language, or exhibiting aggression in a classroom comes from the home environment or what they have been exposed to. A young child who is twerking in class learned this from an adult. It is not age-appropriate, cute or funny.
A Teacher Cannot Replace the Family Influence
So, what to do? Your child’s teacher cannot fix your child. A teacher cannot replace a primary caregiver’s influence, or love. Building resilience and supporting successful behavior starts at home. A child’s time in the classroom is temporary. It is up to the family to prepare and support a child for a lifetime. With this in mind, what does a successful adult look like to you? That vision informs intentional parenting and teaching choices and practice. Keeping children safe and healthy until they are able to do this for themselves.
Work with Teachers for a Successful Classroom Experience
They do their best to work with what they get. Teachers have the training and skills to support a child, but the main work must happen in the home environment. It is up to the family to support and prepare a child for group care or school setting.
Family will always be a child’s Most Important Teacher
As a primary caregiver, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. Young children look up to you, they love you, You are the most important person to them in the whole world and they believe everything you say. Everything you say about the world around them, and about who you say they are. Are you building up, or tearing down? Keeping children safe and healthy at home and in group care take intentional work between family and the teacher.
Resources are available
A parent can use their child’s teacher as a resource. Teachers are required to attain education and training in child development and behavior. They can give you tips and tools you can implement at home to support your child’s success in a group care setting.
The principal and director will have access to resources and programs to help your child succeed. Most of these are free. You can also work with the child’s pediatrician and other medical professionals to make sure there aren’t other issues in play. School districts also have resources for pre-kindergarten families to help you test and support a child’s academic progress.
Let’s all work together to support this generation into a healthy, loved, safe, and successful adulthood.
MORE INFORMATION
A Guide to Resilience – Center on the Developing Child – Harvard University
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