Home » ExchangeEveryDay » Give Young Children Their Voices



ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues


<< Previous Issue | View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> ExchangeEveryDay
Give Young Children Their Voices
August 11, 2020
You never get to choose the shoes you walk in, and they all hurt when they're new.
-Kristen Hall

In an article in Psychology Today, Erin Leyba, LCSW, PhD, writes:

“Providing young children opportunities to use their voices, make decisions, develop ownership, and solve problems are great ways to bond with them.

Giving kids a say also:

  • builds respect,
  • strengthens community,
  • invites cooperation,
  • develops problem-solving skills, and
  • capitalizes on kids’ normal human need for power and control.”

Deb Curtis and Jess Guiney, in an article that forms the basis for an Out of the Box Training Kit, “Seeing and Supporting Children’s Right to Choose,” write this:

“Vygotsky’s learning theories about social constructivism support the ideas that:

  1. Children learn in relationship with others,
  2. Being able to fully engage with like-minded friends can scaffold children’s development more readily than can teacher-directed activities…

Our view of children strongly determines if we support and challenge them or direct and correct them. Adults must believe that children deserve the right to choose and are capable of understanding that with rights come responsibility. If we believe this, then we will use our role to coach children to make good choices.”

Source: “5 Guidelines for Giving Kids Choices,” by Erin Leyba, LSCW, PhD, Psychology Today, February 1, 2016





Out of the Box Training

Use coupon code RESPECT at checkout
for buy one, get one free on
ALL Out of the Box Trainings

Out of the Box Training Kits are ready-to-use professional development programs on a variety of contemporary topics to support and improve the skills and pedagogy of those who work with young children.



May not be combined with any other offer. Not applicable on past purchases. Sale expires March 30, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST.

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

What is ExchangeEveryDay?

ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.

Urban Infant - Nap Mats Samples.
Gryphon House - Provoking Curiosity.
ez-care - Working Remotely Made Easy.




Post a Comment

Have an account? to submit your comment.


required

Your e-mail address will not be visible to other website visitors.
required
required
required

Check the box below, to help verify that you are not a bot. Doing so helps prevent automated programs from abusing this form.



Disclaimer: Exchange reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion or reprint posted comments in other Exchange materials.