Hello PADM Families,

We are using our February blog to reiterate some of the themes from our coffee this month. Our coffee centered around emotional regulation and self-compassion. If you missed it, here is the link: https://zoom.us/rec/share/qYQJ1XRwzNFeLQHpeGvkz9CaR1cTVq8vz1xJKcXeoZR19dL-AjWGqIileMjv-hFp.uwxaNk_09Y81JjpW

The passcode is: ncD&y5pN

Because we have had a year full of change and transitions, feeling secure and centered has not always been easy. This can lead to emotional dysregulation. We understand that the children have had to contend with loss and upheaval and we try to receive them with compassion and grace. In addition to having affirming conversations and giving lots of hugs, we have taken some concrete measures to support the children in developing self-regulation and self-compassion.

We have seen a need for gross motor movement and in those moments, we invite the children to jump on our trampoline, to push the rest cots down the hallway, to carry the lunch boxes downstairs, to do jumping jacks and sit ups in the hallway, etc. Even just going for a walk to deliver a flower arrangement can help! Moving their bodies helps them to feel more embodied and better able to understand and manage their emotions.

We have also seen a need for self-compassion and self-love. Some of the children have responded to the inconsistencies of this year by getting down on themselves. We have had many conversations about how to healthily express disappointment and frustration. We encourage children to express those feelings by saying, “I feel frustrated because…” or “I am disappointed that…”. We have had many individual and group conversations about how to respectfully express feelings. In addition to these conversations, we have instituted some classroom rituals around self-love. On Self-Love Tuesdays, we read a book at circle relating to the themes of love, kindness, friendship, or emotions. We then pose a question to the circle related to the book. For instance, “what makes you feel proud?” or “what are you grateful for?”. The children have the option of answering the question to be dismissed from the circle.

Here are some of the books we have been reading:

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The Kindergarteners have been tasked with keeping a kindness journal. They write something kind about themselves or others every Monday. We hope this will help them to start their week off on the right foot!

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Another way we are trying to encourage positive thought and action is through crafts. Ms. Allison creates a craft that centers around an important holiday or event every month. In February, in addition to celebrating Lunar New Year and Black History Month, we celebrated Valentine’s Day. The children made a Valentine craft called “My Box of Love”. It was made to look like a box of chocolates with each chocolate representing something or someone they love. This helped to generate lots of conversation about love, friendship, and goodwill.

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In addition to discussions and work centered around self-love, we see how feeling proud of their culture and family positively affects the children. We try to include books, crafts, artwork, and cultural artifacts that represent the children and families in our room. For instance, during Lunar New Year, we had so many beautiful decorations, crafts, and books donated to us by families that celebrate Lunar New Year. If you would ever like to lend us a book or cultural artifact that is special to your family, we would love to share it with the class. The children feel so proud when they share their family’s culture with their community.

Please let us know when your family to celebrating a special holiday and we would love to talk about it in school!

Thank you so much,

Ms. Allison, Ms. Maggie, Ms. Danielle, Ms. Diana, Ms. Jay, Ms. Kate, and Ms. Kelly