Learning compassionate communication skills with friends
/We are having such a fun time building friendships and playing collaboratively! Each day friendships are becoming stronger and more joyful. In the process we are learning how to communicate kindly with each other and negotiate our needs and wants with compassion. It’s hard work and friends are doing a great job.
During circle time today, we read the book Tyrannosaurus Wrecks! A Preschool Story by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen. It’s a funny and sweet book about a dinosaur who moves through a preschool classroom and “wrecks” other schoolmates creations. The dinosaur is not meaning to be unkind, he is just unaware of how his actions are affecting his mates. By the end of the story, the Tyrannosaurus understands his actions, works to make amends and is a much happier creature (as are his classmates).
All that said, we have been working through the same challenges at school. Periodically a friend will knock down another friend’s tower or accidentally bump into someone or give an unwanted hug without first asking. When these things come up, we always make sure to check on our friends and ask how we can help make the other person feel better and comfortable. This helps clarify everyone’s wishes and establishes each person’s comfort level with space and trust.
After the book at circle, we decided to practice taking turns asking a friend for a hug. Some friends said “no” while most said “yes.” It was very joyful! We then sang a song about love and moved onto the jump song.
