#Kinderchat, glue, glitter, gogurt, bringing daily joy to twitter. Find us Mondays, 9 pm EST and 8:30PM London time when we talk all things Early Years!
I'm Rachel Hogan and I am a student at Austin Peay State University. I am a teacher candidate wanting to teach Pre-K through 3rd! And I love the song Prefect by Ed Sheeran! #Kinderchat
Hello! My name is Lexus! I am from TN and I am currently working on becoming a kindergarten teacher. A song I love is How far I'll go from the Moana soundtrack!
#Kinderchat
Hi #kinderchat Faige in rainy Los Angeles. Not complaining, just saying. Not true complaining. Leaky roof. Can’t fix it till rainy season stops. Can you believe rainy season and Los Angeles on the same tweet?
We are talking about risky play tonight! #kinderchat Specifically yesterday’s article in the @NYTimes about Britain promoting more risky play on playgrounds!
Hello everyone! My name is Samantha and I am an Elementary Education major, with a Music minor at Plymouth State University! I am torn between wanting to teach either second grade or kindergarten. A song I love is September by Earth, Wind & Fire #kinderchat#PSUElemEd
School I taught at has PT conferences this Thursday/Friday and next as well I think. They will all be ready for spring break which is first week of April. #kinderchat
In reply to
@hechternacht, @KeeneeLou, @krissymbutler
That sounds fantastic! #kinderchat great to have their voice! Are they visiting other playgrounds? Watching videos to see what others are doing? So many great resources w our EU friends on here too
A1: It seems to toughen them up a bit. IF they fall and hurt themselves they might not be as dramatic. Some of mine get blown over by wind and you'd think it's the end of the world. #kinderchat
A1- helps children learn there boundaries, physical limitations, develop confidence, learn that falling isn't so bad and overall "toughen up" #kinderchat
A1: Challenges allow for exploration, experimentation, problem solving, practicing, and playing. This leads to learning and feeling successful #kinderchat
A1: It gives them courage and it shows them that sometimes when you take a risk it gives an outcome that you like. It'll give kids more of a boost to take risks as they get older that could benefit them. #Kinderchat
A1: Risky play gives children the opportunity to build resilience and grit. Children must know we are there to help and support them, but children must know they can handle some situations on their own. #kinderchat#PSUElemEd
A1: It provides them with real life learning experiences and awareness with the opportunity to make personal choices that can be used in all aspects of learning
#Kinderchat
A1: Risky play provides the students with a sense of imagination. Typical playgrounds include swings, slides, monkey bars, etc. and the children follow suit to what you do on the equipment. However, with risky play the children are having to build there equipment. #kinderchat
A1: It helps build their confidence, they will push themselves farther. It also helps toughen them up. They can decide if they want to try it again or if it isn't worth it. #kinderchat
Risky play affords children the chance to build grit (something even I as an adult feel that I am lacking). It allows children to take "risks" while they're young so they "get it all out of their systems" while still in a somewhat "controlled environment" #Kinderchat#PSUElemEd
A2: People need problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, and know what is "safe" for them. I think risk assessment is a personal thing at times #kinderchat
I’m not a huge fan of the grit train people are in lately but I do think children overall need to be able to work and persist through difficulty more. We don’t expect enough in some areas and too much in others imho #kinderchat
A2: It shows children what they should and shouldn't do. Like if they use scissors and hurt themselves, they would be more careful when they use them next time. #Kinderchat
A1: Mental and physical health, independence, self-confidence, passion, inquiry, persistence. Suggested read about importance of outdoor, independent play and so much more: "There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather, Just Bad Clothes."
#kinderchat
A2 Risk Assessment is a way to build stamina in academics as well. How do they approach tasks, do they persevere, do they look for help before checking options. I wrote this which is a way to look at “risk”
https://t.co/tw84yJrYJq#kinderchat
QA: I think of risk assessment (and feeling that success and confidence associated with it) builds the same kind of skills in taking "academic" risks, feeling confident with trial and error, mistakes, and stepping outside comfort zones. #kinderchat
A2: Helps build the skill of whether a risk is worth it or not. Not all risks have to be bad, just need to learn how to choose wisely. #kinderchat#PSUElemEd
A2: Risk assessment is a critical skill for children to develop because they will use this assessment for the rest of their life. Throughout life you are faced with difficult tasks where you have to decide what the risks are. #kinderchat
A2: It is important for students to be able to determine if the risk is worth the possible outcome. There will be failed attempts, do you try again or not? #kinderchat
A2: Risk assessment allows children to "learn by mistake" which some claim is the best way to learn. Once a child hurts him or herself by doing something, he or she will know that it hurts to do whatever was done and not do it again. #Kinderchat#PSUElemEd
Yes!!! Capable to make decisions! Risk assessment is the beginnings of informed decisions- weighing options, deciding if safe enough themselves #kinderchat
I don't know if Canada is as far along as the article portrays (I mean at least not where I teach) although I find it funny how sometimes x, y, and Z are allowed but all of a sudden activity W is waaaay offside #kinderchat
Thanks! One of the moms at our school shared that very article with parents. She posted, "These days, it feels all too rare to come across an article in the newspaper that has my heart racing because I'm excited rather than mystified about the topic."
In reply to
@hechternacht, @krissymbutler, @KeeneeLou, @dubioseducator
A2. Risk assesment skills are important so students can develop their own sense of judgment, for when an adult is not present to make sure they're safe. Students need to take risks so they can realize that failure is okay, and if you fall 7 times you stand up 8. #kinderchat
It seems more so than in US I can tell you from talking this many years to teachers in both places. US feels profoundly behind in outdoor ed, value of play, recess, etc overall #kinderchat Improving, but still not valuing the way it should be
I was going to say the same thing - tweeting from Ontario. I have to admit it's an area that I'm wanting to grow in(hence why I'm here following!😊) #kinderchat
Love this: “It’s a rubber floor, a little structure surrounded by a fence, it’s like a little play jail. Grownups are on their phone, waiting for them to be done” #kinderchat
Oh I’d agree with you on that one for sure. As a system we are further ahead but I feel like we fight some of the same over cautious “helicopter” / “snowplow” parent culture here. Always feel like they set the standard over the trained professionals 😕 #kinderchat
So true. Play seen as a waste of time. Time being the commodity so how you you let them play, when so much more important stuff needs to happen. She says #snarky voice #kinderchat
At our school, pre-k and kindergarten are the only grades to get a 30 min. recess. All other grades it's 20 min. For inclement weather, I do Go Noodle because they have to move around. #Kinderchat
A3: I think it depends of the circumstance. I know there are certain risks I would allow my child to make, but not someone else's. I would not want to return the child to the parent with an injury, bruises, etc. out of fear. #kinderchat#PSUElemEd
A3: Unfortunately the American legal system appears to have too much control or I suppose too much leisure when it comes to safety regulations. We as Americans are so concerned with keeping our children safe, that we forget to let them engage in risk. #Kinderchat#PSUElemEd
A3 continued: We feel that following the rules will keep our children safe, therefore, the legal system has the lead on this issue and prevents our country as a whole from following in the footsteps of European countries. #Kinderchat#PSUElemEd
My 5 yr old step daughter was too scared to learn to skate.. tears the instant she stood up with skates on .. so I repeatedly pulled her down on the ice and made her "fall" (gently) to realize it ain't the end of the world. #kinderchat
My 5 yr old step daughter was too scared to learn to skate.. tears the instant she stood up with skates on .. so I repeatedly pulled her down on the ice and made her "fall" (gently) to realize it ain't the end of the world. #kinderchat
A4: Play is "sterilized" when we constantly disinfect every single surface with which our children come into contact. Play is "sterilized" when bubble wrap our children by removing all of the potential harms that could pop those bubbles.(glass or droppings) #Kinderchat#PSUElemEd
I feel like I can't win sometimes.. I have half my parents upset that I'm not using technology more or that we went outside when it was -minus whatever. and the other upset any time we do anything that's screen time or stay inside.. parents are an obstacle to play #kinderchat
as crummy as that can be I had 5 seperate broken bone injuries as an elementary aged child. I played hard and I survived. Can't let fear rule the world. (Hope you're sister is ok tho! I know how uncomfy casts can be) #kinderchat
I really wish I had more big outdoor "loose parts" to upgrade our outdoor play time help deepen the skills being built beyond just the standard playground #kinderchat
Hi all y'all: Took the Grade 1/2 class out to play on the snowploughed stacks of snow a couple weeks ago and there was so much cooperative play going on: Imagine if I had actually planned the experience. Spontenaity is good, too, once in a while. #kinderchat
Yes! More examples of how American children miss out on experiencing weather! #kinderchat In UK, they make fires and go play outside in the rain and mud. #kinderchat
#kinderchat A6: additions -- motion (large reels, tires, logs) and boards. Ancient technology -- catapults, moving large objects with post/logs, etc. 😃
A6 #kinderchat We’re in a new space while school is building a new building. EC classes Toddler, 3s and 4s in modular units with this playground. They have lots of playtime!! Kinders have open spaces but no climbing structures or sand area for now.
Yeah. I wouldn't had done any risk taking as a kid as I was too afraid! Over the last two three years I've been trying new things though. And risk taking will definitely be apart of my teaching when I'm in the classroom!! #kinderChat
My pre k grandson just about to go down the schoolyard hill at ski club. He fell 3 times on the hill & got back up on his own. It’s grade 1 ski club but when your grandma’s a coach ... #kinderchat
A3. Fear and lack of understanding. People are afraid to send kids out to play because of injury/strangers but the more likely danger (statistics show) is obesity/mental health issues caused by an indoor childhood in front of the tv/iPad.
#kinderchat
Also, just an aside: much respect to all ECS-teacher types: had to cover for a day recently (or was it half-a-day...can't remember) but it felt like forever! As much as I enjoyed (thank goodness for EA), I don't know how you do it day in, day out. #kinderchat
A6: I think that we can first start by "hiding" all of the everyday materials. We can do this by leaving scissors and sharpened pencils out in the open. We can also add potted plants to our classroom and maybe a child so happens to wonder and eat some dirt #Kinderchat#PSUElemed
One of the best things I had kids do is to go out and dig a deep hole. Ok it was a grave for a bird, but it was great. Focused the child totally #kinderchat Heavy work is good and essential. Grounds them!!
Question- What about when you have those special ducks who have no limits. How do you encourage risk when you have kiddos who can make walking in to an extreme sport if you know what I mean ;) #kinderchat
That's what I always tell myself whenever I struggle with hitting the "tweet" or "reply" buttons! And with that I can practice the growth mindset method!! #KinderChat
Q7: What guidelines would you put in place to insure an area of a “controlled play environment” where children can develop the skill of assessing risk? #kinderchat
A frustration for me this year has been the rising temperature of the “too cold to go out” threshold. We have had more indoor recesses than ever. “But the kids aren’t properly dressed” send them out one cold day & they’ll dress properly the next #kinderchat
A7: This is a great question. It pushes me out of my comfort zone. I do not like it when they climb really high. I do not like lots of pointy, sharp things. I think that's reasonable. Right?! #kinderchat
I agree. It takes the village thinking the same way. The daycare in our school had an Open House about risky play. Kicking myself for not going and rethinking. #kinderchat
Grownups need to be ready and properly dressed! Too often the cold is about them!! #kinderchat (Though in Saskatchewan it is really really actually very cold so that might be me?!! I don’t know!!) 😃
Those kids will turn any area into a risk taking space despite supervision/site restrictions. Talk to them & help them think through or reflect on what they do #kinderchat
We were fortunate this year to again receive several large donations of snow pants, toques, mitts, etc to provide for those who do not have. #KinderChat Not sure how many inside days we had this winter, but I'm guessing five.
