It is so unfortunate that a lot of our children today become isolated from the world because they feel unwanted. I can recall meeting a wonderful young girl by the name of Kaylah, who I assisted when I was an assistant teacher for a summer program. She was very shy and distance from everyone, as she would play alone most days during recess. When she came into the class, she always laid her head on her desk and it was very hard for the teacher to keep her active on her assignments. The teacher communicated to me that Kaylah's mother had a hectic work schedule and rarely had time for her. Her father was not in her life and she was the only child at that time. One day during recess, I ask her, "Kaylah, are you not going to play with the other kids? It looks like they are having fun". She replied, "no one wants to play with me, they are mean to me". I thought, why would the other children treat her so bad? Of course I went to the playground where the other kids were and asked them why were they being so negative towards Kaylah. Their response was, "she's a cry baby". I told them that their behavior was inappropriate and that we all cry sometimes from sadness and pain. I told them that if they would play with her and make her feel included, then maybe she wouldn't cry often. I then told Kaylah that it was okay to cry sometimes but you have to be the big girl that you are to just hold your head up and smile. I complimented her in every way I could to make her feel appreciated and wanted. For the rest of that day, she came to me and talked with me and was very happy that someone was willing to listen to her. She eventually became more comfortable and started communicating with the other children. It wasn't much communication, however, it was a good start for her.
In Canada, one out of every five kids shows signs of an emotional or behavioral problem. There, they feel as though stress is needed for children at a young age so that they can know how to deal with it in the future. However, if the stress becomes a bit too much for the child, then the parent needs to be more attentive and to seek help. They have developed a new program called the Stress Lesson program that introduces stress management strategies for parents and teachers to use for kids in grades 4 through 6. The program offers health information, activities, conversation starters and breathing techniques that can help them during the time of their stress. They also offer strategies as well for younger children.
Indeed, isolation and stress is a very crucial matter as we now see today that a lot of our youth have resulted in taking their own lives because they did not know how to deal with certain issues. Hopefully, we as people can do a better job in making our children feel wanted and to teach them that it is very important for them to respect and to make their peers feel wanted as well.
Isn't is a great feeling to change a person's attitude just by taking a couple minutes out of your day to just listen to them? Children just want to be heard and when there is no one to talk to, they feel neglecting or left out.
ReplyDeleteAnother issue children stress over, which falls under emotional or behavioral problems is bullying. Children are bullied everyday in one way or another. As educators, we need to find ways to end the bullying and stress the importance of accepting everyone and how to do that.
Great Post! Keep up the good work in changes lives!
What?, stress is good, in order to teach children at a young age how to handle stress for their future problems that they aren't even aware of yet? Wow, the things that are done to children are so.. I can't find a word to express my thought of this.
ReplyDeleteIt really made a big difference to encourage Kaylah, I know she will never forget you for it. You gave her a life time of confidence. As all good teachers should.
Keep properly loving children and their families, Latasha.
Darlene
Latasha, I believe that all children need to know how to deal with stress. As a mother of a child with ADHD I have had to encourage my son and teach him how to channel his negative stress into positive stress. Children need to know how to deal with stress as well as how to do it without being explosive.. I am so shocked at the many things children have to deal with. As a social worker I have seen things that I have never imagined a small child would have to deal with. Continue doing what you do.
ReplyDeleteYou gave her a life time of self-confidence. As all good teachers should
ReplyDeleteIt was great that you were able to give her that confidence that she can carry on with her in the future. Children have to deal with a lot of different things now days which can be very stressful. I feel that should be taught to be able to deal with thing because it will never stop. Children should be able to have someone they can go to that they can express themselves so that they won’t have to hold in so much stress. Carry on reaching out to children.