Best Practice

Best Practice: Many educators are faced with the daily challenges of supporting young children who display disruptive behaviors. Children who require physical movement, have a high energy level, and who maybe oppossitional may have a difficult time in a setting with a large number of children. Often times these same children present poor social play skills. They can be very bright and have the potential to be class learders. Are there ways to support these children so they can be happy and successful? When educators take the time to deliberatley infuse the needs of these children into daily classroom activities, they can have the opportunity to be active, positive learners. During the Rainforest Project, large muscle movement activities were created for children who require physical movement during free play as well during more structured large group time. All activities are focused around allowing children to practice skills such as social problem- solving, peer conflict resolution, and imagination. Adults may set the stage (coming up with the idea of making the Amazon River) but the children take ownership of the event (creating and traveling down the river). Children get to practice and rehearse these critical skills while using large muscle movements.

Poor Practice: Children are given a minimal amount large muscle movement and physical activities are controlled by adults. Children maybe perceived by adults as oppossitional because they do not comply to adult driven activities. High energy children are not given the opportunities to channel their physical energies in socially accepted events.