Some educational best practices

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To the editor: 

A few days ago, I heard an interesting interview by a Ph.D. from Harvard University.  I found that we were like-minded in what he had to say. The bottom line from him was that the teaching of social and emotional skills at early ages in children’s lives would do a lot to prevent violence in our society.

Violence has been flaring up all throughout our city and outside with murders, DWIs and drug busts, and it’s hitting our neighborhoods hard as well. The Harvard professor with whom I agree addresses these problems in a different way than I do.

In 1991, I wrote a curriculum for early childhood while completing my MS in early childhood education at Lehman College. It was called the tools to grow curriculum and the masters’ thesis was entitled “encouraging nurturing behavior in children by introducing plans and flowers.” 

What follows is a template of what it is about.

What is nurturing behavior in young children? 

Being able to share the attention of others, including the teacher. Developing eye-to-eye contact with teachers and peers. Learning to smile at others. Being helpful to others. Learning to gain attention from others in positive ways.

Developing responsible behavior. Learning to compliment rather than criticize others. Showing tolerance for others and their differences. Being able to express sorrow when actions or words have hurt another.

These traits need to be practiced in school and at home. 

Through books, music, outdoor activity, nutrition or cooking and dramatic play, children will cover all bases of learning. 

In a weekly summary description, children and adults will learn both nurturing skills and other tools to grow.

Through non-fiction and books of fiction and music written by folksingers and classical pieces about nature combined with art subjects. The outdoors covers planting to the environment and ecology. Cooking opens the doors not only to measuring other skills, but also nutrition. Finally, dramatic play offers all the combined fantasies that have been practiced. 

Karen R. Green

children, education, child development, Karen R. Green

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