Dear Parents/Guardians,
Our first month in Kindercare has been a great success! Your children have done a great job of adjusting to our daily routine. In September, the focus has been on learning strategies for helping centre their attention, improve their self-regulation skills, and develop a positive mind-set.
Your children have learned the concept of “expected” and “unexpected” behaviour”. The purpose is to direct students in critical thinking and reflect on any social situation in which they are involved. One of the examples I have used in the class was asking the students to run around the class while being loud and boisterous. Is this “bad” behavior? No, it is unexpected behavior. Out on the playground, in our backyards, it is “expected behavior”. Have them explain this to you, if they haven’t already. They have been amazing on being able to discern which of their behaviors are expected vs unexpected and how that makes other people feel. A student’s ability to think through a situation is a great tool in helping change their behavior in that situation.
The goal in all of this is to help your children learn to observe social situations and understand that behaviors are linked to emotions. When we do expected behaviors, it makes us feel better about ourselves. Our ability to self-regulate and being able to adjust behavior in any given situation is a skill that needs opportunities to practice. Our Kindercare program will provide the framework for many fun and engaging social interactions and situations that I’m sure will give us unlimited opportunities.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to a great year together!
Sincerely,
Nancy Foley
Kindercare Instructor
Notre Dame School