We have spent September trying to make connections and building relationships between educators and children, and child to child. This is what we prioritize the first few months. By building a relationship of trust from day one, helps create a "secure base" so that the childcare environment doesn’t feel so scary, and unfamiliar but becomes a place that feels safe and it starts to feel like a second home. Children who feel a personal bond with their caregivers/educators often adjust to the morning routine faster, it helps lessen separation
anxiety, and build trust in the world outside from their parents. Creating that bond helps children feel safe, valued and they belong in this new preschool setting.
Building relationships between peers creates a sense of belonging, helps to reduce separation anxiety, builds confidence and independence, plus helps them to feel more secure. Shari and I have created many different activities and play opportunities to help the preschoolers connect through their play. Helping the children to find friends with similar play interests where they can bond and build relationships with. Some of these relationships may continue even after they leave RisingOaks. We have had families even
make friendship connections that have continued on throughout their primary school years and on. Olivia and Aryana have already built a friendship connection and enjoy playing in the sandbox, hanging out in the tunnel talking to engaging in the many activities throughout their day.
Some of the preschoolers moved up together from the preschool one room which helped that transition from room to room. Now that we have had a couple of weeks together they are beginning to build new relationships with the new friends, and building those connections and creating a sense of belonging. The children are also beginning to bond, trust and feel safe and secure with the educators in the room.
At the end of September, we will handout a piece of construction paper to each family asking them to make a scrapbook page all about them and their families. You can do a collage of pictures all about your family traditions, holidays, traditional clothing, language(s) spoken and anything else important to you and your family. This way they will be able to see and reflect on diverse identities, cultures, and family structures within our room. We even had a family social evening event to help build connections with staff, families and children too!
