SOCIAL SKILLS
Positive social interactions between and among the children has always
been a focus of Pinewood Preschool. The children are instructed on how to
resolve problems on their own and on how to use good manners.
Positive,
polite, and pro-active social interactions between the child and all adults in
his/her environment are also crucial to the long–term healthy growth and
development of the child. With electronic entertainment and communication,
children are growing up disconnected from other people. The disconnection
occurs gradually over the years.
Not greeting someone or not saying
goodbye is the result of self-absorption/selfishness or social anxiety.
Self-confidence and social ease is a learned skill. It is important not to
neglect this crucial skill for success in personal relationships and in work
relationships. Even more important than well-behaved or academically competent
children are children who are connected to others, both peers and adults.
Creating comfortable connection now will ensure healthy adult relationships in
the future. Parents of socially adept children have a special light in their
eyes because they know and feel that their child is healthy in a special
(spiritual) way.
The Pinewood Preschool staff would like to encourage
and support any and all parental efforts to have their child both greet and say
good-bye to his/her teachers. Stating the teacher’s name and eye contact
are important. The practice of this and consequences for not practicing this
are up to the parent. It won’t happen without parental guidance and
insistence.
In August Pinewood teachers explain this new skill to the
children and have them role-play (practice) one at a time. Teachers then give a
sticker to each child as they successfully perform this task upon leaving
school. A special pencil will be awarded each child at the end of two weeks. We
encourage families to extend this lesson to include relatives and friends.
Role-play and reward make this work.
DR. PHIL’S BOOK
“FAMILY FIRST”
Pinewood Preschool recommends that every
family own a copy of this book. The book clearly describes three parenting
styles and three “child types”. Each parenting style is good but
needs to be flexible (able to move to another style) for the particular
“child type” and situation at hand. The book also gives specific
action plans for enhancing intelligence, self-esteem (self-worth), social
confidence, mental and emotional stability and spiritual maturity. PLUS MUCH
MORE. Copies are available for “sign-out”.
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