1. Talk often with your children from the day they are born.
2. Hug Them, hold them, and respond to their needs and interests.
3. Listen carefully as your children communicate with you.
4. Read aloud to your children every day, even when they are babies. Play and sing with them often.
5. Say "yes" and "I love you" as much as you say "no" and "don't".
6. Ensure a safe, orderly, and predictable environment, wherever they are.
7. Set limits on their behavior and discipline them calmly, not harshly.
Source: Early Childhood-Head Start task Force (U.S. Departments of Education and Health & Human Services)
THE ABCs of Children:
Children Are...
Amazing, ACKNOWLEDGE THEM.
Believeable, TRUST THEM.
Childlike, ALLOW THEM.
Divine, HONOR THEM.
Energetic, NOURISH THEM.
Fallible, EMBRACE THEM.
Gifts, TREASURE THEM.
Here Now, BE WITH THEM.
Innocent, DELIGHT WITH THEM.
Joyful, APPRECIATE THEM.
Kindhearted, LEARN FROM THEM.
Lovable, CHERISH THEM.
Magical, FLY WITH THEM.
Noble, ESTEEM THEM.
Open Minded, RESPECT THEM.
Precious, VALUE THEM.
Questioners, ENCOURAGE THEM.
Resourceful, SUPPORT THEM.
Spontaneous, ENJOY THEM.
Talented, BELIEVE IN THEM.
Unique, AFFIRM THEM.
Valuable, PROTECT THEM.
Whole, RECOGNIZE THEM.
Xtraspecial, CELEBRATE THEM.
Yearning, NOTICE THEM.
Zany, LAUGH WITH THEM
written by: Meiji Stewart.
I was inspired by this poem and think it serves as an excellent way to affirm the "whole-child" of the students that you are working with or are raising everyday. Building resilient children is hard work and the actions that you take each day can either build them up or break them down. With that in mind, post this poem on your refrigerator door, teacher work station, or just share it with a friend or family member!
