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Children are eager learners and curious by nature. Combined, these two qualities make encouraging children to try new things an easier endeavour.Whilst children possess these characteristics, it doesn’t mean you’ll never encounter resistance when introducing new ideas and activities. When that happens, there are strategies you can deploy to effectively overcome any trepidation children may be feeling.Children, like most adults, fear failure. It can make them hesitate when trying new things. The minute they’re asked to engage in an activity they’ve not tried before, they may become anxious. It’s also not uncommon for children to feel powerless and vulnerable.
If children give in to their fears, they may avoid the unfamiliar. Without the proper encouragement from adults to help them build self-esteem, it’s a pattern that may continue well into adulthood.Exhausting. Scary. Uncomfortable. Children may be feeling all those things when asked to try something new. Trying new things leads to learning, so we must encourage children and give them the support needed to explore. Here are some effective strategies that really work for getting children to try new things.Get children in the “not yet” zone.One effective method for conquering that innate fear of failure is to remind children that even if they can’t do it yet, practice makes perfect. Shifting their thinking from “I failed” to “I just can’t do it yet” gives children the encouragement they need to keep trying new things until they master them.
Keep a “bravery” record Every time a child tries something new — whether they succeed or fail — mark it down in a bravery journal. Simply attempting a task can give children the confidence to keep trying unfamiliar things until they master them all.Be sure to include drawings and other mementos to help children recall the experience favourably.Offer praise for small successesChildren, like adults, respond well to praise. How we choose to respond to their attempts at something challenging and new can set the stage for their failure or success.Don’t wait for them to make it all the way to their goal. Celebrate the small steps along the journey. Every time children make it to a designated milestone in achieving the task, give them positive praise and other encouraging feedback.
Try not to focus too much on what might not have gone right. Accentuate the positive.Set realistic expectations The quickest way to get children to refuse to try something new is by setting the goalpost too high. When we strap too much baggage onto children — what we expect of them, what we think of them, how we think they should perform — it can discourage them from even attempting a new task.How do you take the pressure off? Use some humour. Children respond well to goofiness when we role-model something new for them. If we make it seem like fun, they’re more likely to give it a go.
Mums and dads spend the first months of their children’s lives establishing routines for daily living. They shape their days around when babies must eat, play, and sleep, to keep them happy and healthy. Transitioning your baby to childcare brings many challenges. One of them is helping your baby adjust to sleeping away from home in what may be a much more stimulating environment. Here are six strategies parents can employ to make the changeover smoother for themselves and their little ones.
Communicating with your childcare provider is the most important step to a successful transition from napping at home to sleeping at a childcare centre. Like you, the provider has a vested interest in ensuring your child has restful naps while in their care. Before you commit to a childcare provider, ask to tour the facility. Specifically, request time to examine the space where your baby will be resting so you can get a feel for the environment. If an in-person tour is not possible due to Covid or other health and safety protocols, then ask for a virtual tour. Ask about any policies or procedures for nap time to ensure everyone is on the same page.
They teach them valuable communication and collaboration skills by guiding interactions with their peers.
A person is considered healthy if they are able to maintain a good balance of a sound body and mind.
The quickest way to get children to refuse to try something new is by setting the goalpost too high.
When children are encouraged from a very early age to engage in learning, they develop a healthy appetite for continuing to grow their knowledge throughout their lifetimes.
A person is considered healthy if they are able to maintain a good balance of a sound body and mind.
The quickest way to get children to refuse to try something new is by setting the goalpost too high.
They teach them valuable communication and collaboration skills by guiding interactions with their peers.
Encouraging social-emotional competence is one of the most essential building blocks of a child’s early education.
