This is the fifteenth best practice brief, a concise (but meaty) article detailing research based, authentic, and age appropriate practices, in the area of early childhood. Michele Beery is an associate professor at Wilmington College, in southern Ohio. Here she shares with us the importance of involving children in the process of solving their problems with friends by giving them the skills to work out solutions. She outlines the steps to use that make this possible even with young children and provides some practical examples. (author/nmb)
Government for Early Childhood
Rules and Laws
5.
Participate in creating and following classroom rules and routines.
Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities for Early Childhood
Participation
2.
Engage in problem-solving behavior with diminishing support from adults (e.g., negotiating roles in play, turn taking).
Rights and Responsibilities
3.
Demonstrate increasing ability to make independent choices and follow through on plans (e.g., putting toys away, moving from activity to activity).
4.
Demonstrate awareness of the outcomes of one's own choices (e.g., picking up toys helps create a safe environment).