Preschool Teachers

Helping children learn about themselves and the world around them is just one of the tasks that preschool teachers share with the parents and caregivers. This is an ever evolving challenge for teachers since no two days are the same.

Preschoolers provide a perspective on the world that we, as adults, don't always think of. Their questions and comments on what they have observed and wonder about can provide a starting point for planning our lessons and activites. Another aspect of being preschool teachers is to help them understand themselves and their relationships with others.

This is not a cut and dried topic that we can get a formula for and then resolve issues. Self esteem, cooperation with others, empathy, taking turns are all additional components of the lessons that we may have planned around a theme idea. It is up to us as preschool teachers to have a good understanding of the wide range of ages of our students.

Two year old children have much different abilities and understanding than a three or four year old. Any experienced preschool teacher understands these complexities and knows how to respond readily to questions or situations that may arise.

What is a Compliment

Have a role play time where you, the teacher, are the one to provide compliments. The student you choose will draw an activity from a list of activities that you have written on index cards. (These should be positive things such as write the word “Hi” on the board, erase the board for you, water a flower, hold a door for someone, put a book away, etc.) After that person has done the action, give them a compliment. Ask the other students how it feels to receive a compliment or a notice that they have done something good. Ask them for other ways to give compliments so that they are beginning to think about saying positive things to others.

What Did You Draw?

Give each child a blank paper and have them draw anything they wish. When everyone is finished they get a chance to show their art work. Rather than you giving them praise ask them to tell you and the others about their drawing or painting. Be sure everyone is listening. As the teacher, reflect back to them how excited they are about their picture and how proud they sound. This helps them to internalize their good feelings themselves and it comes from within. While teaching preschool, remember that self pride is so important at any age.

Going on a Plane Ride

Arrange the chairs in the room to resemble the inside of a train or airplane. Pretend everyone is going on a long trip and everyone will have assigned seats. Brainstorm how to get along with each other in confined spaces for a long time and how they can help make the trip a pleasant one. Friendship skills are stressed here.

Who is a Good Friend?

Show students a picture of everyday life, with one person acting like a good friend and someone else acting like a bad friend. Have students describe why the good friend would be helpful to have in your life and why the bad friend is a problem.

Preschool teachers can provide opportunities such as the ones above for their students to play in certain situations and give them guidance on how to meet the challenges of new ways to deal with each other. Learning how to work together or to respect how to get along is essential in helping our preschoolers on to a happy life.

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