Emotionally Intelligent ECE Teams

08/30/2005

Emotionally Intelligent ECE Teams

Real development is not leaving things behind, as on a road, but drawing life from them, as from a root.
G. K. Chesterton

Writing in Swings & Roundabouts (Issue 3, 2005, www.ecc.org.nz), the official publication of World Forum Alliance member Early Childhood Council in New Zealand, Judith Keller observes that not only should we be interested in the impact of emotional competence upon young children’s learning, but we should also be concerned about the emotional competence of our teaching teams. She offers these starting points for a team review of its emotional strengths and weaknesses:

* When is our team at its best? What are the qualities and attributes that we display at those times?

* What are our hopes and dreams for our future together as a team? What practical steps do we need to take to turn our hopes and dreams into reality?

* What positive impact do we wish to have on others -- children, families, colleagues, our local community, the world? How will we achieve this?

* What resources do we currently have within our team that are underutilized or undervalued? What can we do about this?

For ideas on working with parents on children’s emotional competence, check out the Parenting Exchange collection of articles: “Friendship, Social Skills, Manners, and Diversity.” This week all Parenting Exchange collections are on sale at a 20% discount at https://secure.ccie.com/catalog/cciecatalog.php?cPath=53

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.