Young children do best when they know what to expect. Involving young children in making the rules is one way to help children become more self-regulating. When youngsters decide what rules they need, they have an opportunity to think about WHY they need rules, what rules would help them regulate their behavior, and how they can best enforce the rules with each other. When children take responsibility for these aspects of classroom life, they are learning how to get along with others in a group setting.
How do children benefit from being involved in making the rules?
· Oral language –When children are encouraged to discuss the need for particular rules and to express the wording for those rules, they are given the opportunity to develop oral language skills.
· Written language – When caregivers write children’s rules in their words, children are motivated to read and make sense of the written works.
· Self-regulation -When children are consulted about the rules, they have the opportunity to understand the need particular rules. This understanding leads to increased feeling of ownership of the rules and procedures, shared responsibility for what happens in the classroom, and a better understanding of why they need to follow and enforce rules.
Have you involved the children in your care in making rules? Tell us about how that has worked for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment