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  • 1.  What kind of connections do you provide for young children in your classroom?

    Posted 05-19-2017 04:33 PM
    Many definitions of spirituality/spiritual development look at the importance of deep connections - between people, people and the earth, objects, ideas, and behaviors. What kind of connections do you provide for young children in your early childhood classroom?

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    Kathleen Harris
    Greensburg, PA
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  • 2.  RE: What kind of connections do you provide for young children in your classroom?

    Posted 05-20-2017 10:07 AM
    I work with 2-3-year olds. I work with them on connecting with each other within our classroom, their families, and the rest of the people in the center. I encourage families to make picture boards so their child can hold them and look at them during the day-I believe this helps the child to stay emotionally  connected to their families when separated. We talk about everyone's role at the center-for example why our cook, Ms Erin, and our custodian, Mr. Robert, are important to us; how we should act when we are around the babies; and helping them remember when they were babies and in Ms Denise's room. I try to help the children see how they belong and are important to our community. I struggle with finding ways for them to connect with nature. We have lots of trees, grass, etc. around our playground but not on our playground. I bring natural items in, but it is not the same as being in the natural environment.

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    Catherine Roach
    Milwaukee WI
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: What kind of connections do you provide for young children in your classroom?

    Posted 05-21-2017 07:59 AM
    I have had <g class="gr_ gr_70 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="70" data-gr-id="70">opportunity</g> to work from one spectrum to the other spectrum of childcare centers. We're having soon as there are very focused on <g class="gr_ gr_71 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="71" data-gr-id="71">nature,</g> but in the program and other centers that were on fortunate to not have any nature at all <g class="gr_ gr_64 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="64" data-gr-id="64">around</g> the school or the program. The hardest part about bringing nature into the programs or even into your classrooms, it's coming to put in the right ways that are cost-effective and virtually almost free. It can be done reaching out to your local nurseries your local stores come up with the project for your whole entire center. Then reach out to the community sounds like to me you have some parents that are willing and able to bring connections <g class="gr_ gr_62 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del" id="62" data-gr-id="62">with in</g> the program and in your classroom. Your parents and even the community that you <g class="gr_ gr_63 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="63" data-gr-id="63">server</g> <g class="gr_ gr_74 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="74" data-gr-id="74">are</g> your resources don't give up.

    <g class="gr_ gr_56 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="56" data-gr-id="56">Natures</g> all around you take advantage of its beauty and <g class="gr_ gr_57 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="57" data-gr-id="57">is</g> in peril opportunities to learn connections.

    Here is a link
    KidsGardening.org

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    Samuel Horn
    Three P<g class="gr_ gr_55 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="55" data-gr-id="55">''s</g> Inc.
    Ferris TX
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: What kind of connections do you provide for young children in your classroom?

    Posted 07-05-2017 09:58 AM
    I believe helping children make connections with everything in their environment is the best way to nurture their spirit. In Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice, Brené Brown defines spirituality as "recognizing and celebrating connection" especially as it is "rooted in love and a sense of belonging". I think children have an instinctive desire to connect with the world around them. My first response is to observe and pay close attention to what the child is interested in. This is unlike observation to analyze a child's developmental level but more of a way to show respect and bring a sense of reverence to my relationship with him/her. It is a way to communicate, non-verbally, my appreciation and joy of their being in the world. My next action is to affirm with a nod, a wink, a smile, or maybe even a kiss that s/he is loved. It seems important to make this connection without words. Too often words convey judgement and qualification. I want to convey non-judgement and unqualified acceptance.

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    Linda Boss
    Lewistown PA
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    Original Message