I Learn Who I Am
•
Sometimes, I feel powerful. But independence
can be scary.
• I count on you to set clear and consistent
limits that keep me safe.
• When I test limits, I am learning who I am
and how I should behave. I am not trying to "get you"
even though it may feel that way at times.
• I feel good about myself and where I come
from when my culture is reflected in my childcare
setting.
• I feel I belong when you speak to me in my
home language.
• I feel proud when I see pictures of my family
and other people like me hanging on the wall.
• I feel safe when I see adults who care about
me working together.
• I sense how you feel about me. Your feelings
help shape how I feel about me.
• When you respect me, I respect myself.
• I know when you think I am good or bad, pretty
or ugly and smart or dumb.
• I tune in carefully to your tone and words
when you talk about me.
• Please don't talk about me as if I can't understand.
• Sometimes I want to be big. Sometimes I want
to be a baby again. And sometimes I want to be both
at the same time. This is one of the reasons why my
behavior is sometimes hard for you to understand.
I don't understand it myself.
• Sometimes I will walk. Other times I want
a ride in the stroller.
• Sometimes I insist on doing things my way.
Other times I want you to do things for me.Sometimes
I push you away. Other times I want you to hold me
close. It's O.K. - I still love you.
• I am learning more self-control.
• I understand more often what you expect of
me.Sometimes I can stop myself from doing things I
shouldn't. Sometimes I can't.
• I learn to control my behavior best when you
give me only a few simple, clear rules to follow and
are there to help me in case I forget them.
I Learn About My Feelings
•
My feelings can
be very strong.
• I feel proud of things I make and do.
• I can get very frustrated and angry. I may
hit, push or bite to express myself.
• I may be afraid of the dark, monsters and
people in masks or costumes.
• I am learning to control my feelings.
• I am learning to use words to express my feelings.
• I sometimes practice how to express my feelings
when I play.
• You show me how to treat others by the way
you treat others.
• I know you have feelings too.
• I may rub your back to comfort you or pat
your cheek. I learn how to care for others by the
way you care for me.I sense when you are happy and
truly there for me. It makes me feel good.
• I can tell when you are very sad, scared or
upset. Sometimes it makes me feel sad, scared and
upset too!
I Learn About People, Objects
and How Things Work
•
I am more aware of other children.
.
• I am aware when other children are my age
and sex.
• I am aware of skin color and may begin to
be aware of physical differences.I can tell who is
missing from the group when I see who is present.
• I like to play together with other children.
• I may pretend we are going to work or cooking
dinner.
• I explore our environment with them, going
over couches or under tables.
• I build block towers with them.
• I am beginning to be aware of other children's
rights.
• I learn I don't always get my way.
• Sometimes I can control myself when things
don't go my way. Sometimes I can't.
• I am learning to take turns.
• Sometimes I share. Sometimes it's just too
hard.
• I learn about how the world works.
• I am very interested in how the world works.
• I may go around a sofa when chasing a ball,
knowing that it will come out the other side.
• If my music box winds down, I may try to find
a way to start it again.I may use a stick or another
object to reach a toy.
I Learn To Move and Do
•
I am learning to do new things with
my fingers and hands.
• I can make marks on paper with crayons and
markers.
• I can stack and line up blocks.
• I can feed myself with my fingers.
• I can use a spoon and can drink from a cup.
• I am learning to move in new ways.
• I can sit in a chair.
• I can pull myself up and stand by holding
onto furniture.
• I learn to walk, first with help and then
alone. Sometimes I still like to crawl.
• I begin dressing and undressing myself. I
can push my foot into my shoe and my arm into my sleeve.I
learn to walk forward, take a few steps backwards
and try to climb stairs.
I Learn To Communicate
and Relate
•
I communicate through my expressions
and actions.
• I look you in the eye to get your attention
and express feelings.
• I point to let you know what I want.
• I point to pictures of interesting objects,
animals and people in books. I hope you will tell
me about them.
• I may hit, kick or bite when I get too frustrated
or angry. I need you to help me learn how to express
these feelings in acceptable ways.
• I communicate using sounds and words.
• I create long babble sentences.
• I use sounds other than crying to get your
help.
• I may be able to say 2 to 10 or more words
clearly.
• I understand more than you may think much
more than the words I can say.
• I listen to you and watch you because I understand
more than just words.
• I learn to look at a ball when you say "ball"
in my home language.
• I can tell whether you're happy or upset from
the tone of your voice and how much tension I feel
in your body when you hold me.
