Topic A Discussion points: Opinionated or big personality kids.
Topic A Solutions: Opinionated or big personality kids.
Topic B Discussion Points: The Introverted Kid
Topic B Solutions: The Introverted Kid
For both types of kids and everyone in between: to inspire your kid to talk about his/her day, try new routines that encourage space for sharing (example: a walk). Check in with her/her teacher. Learn the lexicon they’ll be using in the classroom (example: Kelso’s Choices).
- What to do when your big personality kid always wants to run the play?
- Do you let him/her just learn from being turned down and try and talk that disappointment through?
- It’s a tricky line to walk when you want your kid to keep his/her personality
- How to deal with resistance to your ideas on how to share who leads the play.
Topic A Solutions: Opinionated or big personality kids.
- Realizing the impact changes the behavior – let your kids experience what happens when others don’t want to play.
- Ask the leading questions, why do you think they don’t want to play? How do you think that could have gone better? How are some ways you can share?
- Explain clearly how other kids feel, instill empathy
- As a parent, remember this may take a few (ok more than a few) times J
Topic B Discussion Points: The Introverted Kid
- What if you have the opposite problem and are worried your kid won’t make friends or won’t speak up.
- Fears of when parents are finally not around and kids are left to do things for themselves
- Kids who aren’t joiners
- Mean girls (already, sigh)
- Physical issues that would hinder group play – speech delay for example.
Topic B Solutions: The Introverted Kid
- Parents should recognize that parallel play is still common at this age so if your child isn’t jumping right in it might not mean that there’s a problem
- Books explaining emotions, working together, celebrating friends (check out Ms Skoog’s Social-Emotional Lending Library!)
- Pep talks, checking in often
For both types of kids and everyone in between: to inspire your kid to talk about his/her day, try new routines that encourage space for sharing (example: a walk). Check in with her/her teacher. Learn the lexicon they’ll be using in the classroom (example: Kelso’s Choices).